Anyone work in adult SS?

[Dyingflowersagain]

Trying not to turn this into an essay.
Basically, vulnerable adult with mental age of 8yo. Lived with their parent until they passed away 5 years ago. Local council wanted their 3 bed house so badly they, literally, packed the VAs stuff into boxes and left them outside in the rain. (photos, keepsakes, etc). VA was given a council flat completely out of their area and left to their own devices. No carpets, blinds, benefits cut. After 18 months of appeals we regained their benefits.
I am not related to VA but used to, voluntarily, care for them at a church based club.
Myself and DP could not leave her in this situation so she slept on our sitting room floor for 3 months until council agreed to put carpets down etc. Since moving into flat, I have contacted SS on several occasions. VA can't clean, wash clothes, cook, etc.
VA, before lockdown, spent most days in my home. Eating and playing with DC.

During lockdown, VA detests the flat so much that they would wander the streets, visit all local pubs once allowed daily rather than being home.
Finally got SS to take notice after putting a complaint in. Local council paid to deep clean the, absolutely disgusting, flat. SS promised daily carers and a move to supported living.
SS are now saying they can't support VA in current circumstances and don't know when they can. Social worker doesn't know why.
I am, literally, burned out. 5 kids and a degree to deal with. Plus 20+ calls and 10+ texts a day from VA about nothing is ridiculous.
I can't step away because VA will have no one and will, likely hurt themselves.

I mean this in the nicest way,step back, you’re over involved and it’s adversely impacting upon you. The adult has an allocated SW who can lead on assessment and accommodation. It’s not your responsibility.
If the adult chooses to spend long periods out their home,again that’s fir the SW to investigate. If the adult has capacity and chooses to be out of their home for prolonged time that’s their choice
Complain to the council and local councillor,LA they’re compelled to respond

SW needs to assess accommodation and ask for an occupational therapy assessment regard the activities of daily living. Choosing not to undertake tasks is different from functionally being unable to undertake tasks

The adult is entitled to a care act assessment to determine his needs, the SW can do this and they should offer you a cater assessment too

You can notify the LA and SW you are withdrawing support. It’s not your sole responsibility to step up

I mean complain that you think the social care provision is inadequate not complain adult is out at the pub

@express VA doesn't have capacity that's the point.
Police have brought them to my home on numerous occasions because they are wandering the streets

SS are, basically, relying on us

What are the police bringing them to you? They need to be liasing with local social services.

Police dont assess capacity. A SW or psychiatrist/psychologist will do that
Adults are presumed to have capacity unless assessed not to. The police returning the adult isn’t in itself a statement about capacity
Did the police complete incident reports or raise safeguarding?
If police were concerned for mental health they could have detained the adult and requested mental health assessment

@DismantledKing because they're giving my name and address as NOK

Unfortunately, I was given great advice recently about no longer propping someone up and allowing them to fall so that services are forced to act. It worked and my mentally unwell friend got the help necessary. Right now services are saying to themselves "well there is community support there" You will feel cruel but... you have to. If you have an immediate concern they are in danger/at risk with the wandering phone 999 if the police get involved SS might have to do more.

So, you contact the SW ask for a case conference
Be clear you’re not the nok, you cannot provide care,if you’re recorded as nok get that removed

@EspressoDoubleShot there's a huge difference between mental health issues and learning disabilities.

Seriously? I know its cruel but the next time police bring her you take them to one side and you say she can't come in and they need to stop doing it and take her elsewhere. The cycle is continuing because you are participating.

Have you contacted your local councils Adult Safeguarding team? If not, do it.

There's a serious chance that VA will harm themselves with no support bot something I want to explain to my DC who adore them

As others have said, you’re going to have to step back here. In my professional and personal life one thing I’ve noticed is that social services will take the piss if you let them; I’ve seen it too many times.
You have to tell them that you aren’t the next of kin, you are stepping back and that they have to deal with it because you’re not going to.

You should never assume that just because a person has a learning disability that they lack capacity to make decisions.

Mental Capacity is still presumed even when one has an LD

Just want to highlight, this is a person with learning disabilities, not mental health issues.
Completely different things.

[quote Dyingflowersagain]@EspressoDoubleShot there's a huge difference between mental health issues and learning disabilities.[/quote]
There is, but some of the outcomes are the same, and the same points apply with everything from aged care to children. The lack.of resource means that if they see a safety net in the community, most of the time SS will on that.

You've clearly moved heaven and earth to help this person, but it also sounds like you need to set boundaries because you and your children are also at risk right now. Can your church step up too? Can you completely stop answering messages until they are at an acceptable level (or find others who can have their numbers shared)? This is not sustainable, you can't help them or anyone if you collapse.

And I need to emphasise since capacity was brought up
You should never assume that just because a person has a learning disability that they lack capacity to make decisions.
Mental Capacity is still presumed even when one has an LD

He has a SW contact them, raise your concern

@EspressoDoubleShot

You should never assume that just because a person has a learning disability that they lack capacity to make decisions. Mental Capacity is still presumed even when one has an LD

No but maybe the vulnerable adult should have an assessment under the mental capacity act to assess whether they do have capacity, and sometimes people can have capacity in some areas and not others

Those suggesting I just walk away, how do I explain that to 5dc who adore VA? Or live with myself if/when they hurt themselves?

@Dyingflowersagain

Just want to highlight, this is a person with learning disabilities, not mental health issues. Completely different things.

Adult Safeguarding covers any at risk adult regardless of issues.

Once a Safeguarding has been raised there is a legal obligation to respond.

@Dyingflowersagain

Those suggesting I just walk away, how do I explain that to 5dc who adore VA? Or live with myself if/when they hurt themselves?

Unfortunately you have two choices. One is to carry on as you are, which is unsustainable. The other is to step back, tell SS this is their problem now, complain about the SW to their manager if they continue to play the ‘don’t know’ card.

No one said walk away
Contact SW, raise your concerns ask for a care act assessment. Highlight Your concerns regard accommodation and daily living skills
The legislation guiding this is mental capacity act, and good practice is least restrictive option. The SW will know this

Could you get in contact with yr local day centre or learning disability charity/in Pt facility for advice? I would again as previously stated distance myself and not take responsibility as the social workers need to step up. I would refuse to be put down as next of kin and put social worker instead. Your kindness is being abused and it's not fair. Although it seems cruel and unfair there needs to be a bit of separation. You can still be involved as in visiting and have a relationship with this person but with healthy boundaries.

^No but maybe the vulnerable adult should have an assessment under the mental capacity act to assess whether they do have capacity, and sometimes people can have capacity in some areas and not others*

⬆️ Yes assess Capacity, but capacity is presumed under MCA so you assess for each specific decision eg accommodation. One capacity assessment doesn’t globally cover all eventualities. So in case of capacity it is present in some specific assessed situations but not others. The adult may be deemed unable to manage finances and the local authority manage finances via an appointeeship, however they may be assessed as able to live independently with a package of care