In thinking my son needs a social worker?

[WilmaFlintstone1]

My son is 19, he’s autistic and has learning difficulties. He currently attends a college/sixth form attached to a special school. He leaves at the end of May and current plan is to try and get him into a Pathways to Independence course at the local MS college.

Back in November when we had his annual review the college discussed referring him to social services as they felt he needed a social worker to support him. His EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan) noted that.

His vocabulary masked his difficulties (he has a good vocabulary bit often cannot make his needs known).

That he would need wrap around support in adulthood in terms of benefits, housing, work etc.

That when he feels under pressure ( a lot of the time) he goes into a defensive mode which usually consists of him becoming non verbal and disappearing like a tortoise into his hoodie.

We agree to the referral and it was done.

it is now May and we’ve heard NOTHING. Not even a letter to say they cannot take him on.

I know they have a lot of young people with disabilities but my son is in real danger of being left behind because despite his language skills he cannot usually make his needs known. Even as his Mum I struggle to unpick stuff at times, and I know him very well.

He is our only child and if anything happened to us he’d be absolutely lost.

Is it worth approaching social services and asking for them to please assess his needs for ongoing support?

Hi OP, I working this field but the team I work in only go up to 18 I was just wondering when was his birthday incase he has somehow sipped through the net between kids and adults services? We have to assess within 4 weeks of a referral where I work so I would have thought you would have heard something by now. I'd definitely try getting in touch.

Thank you, I will give them a ring tomorrow.

Hi OP, I also work in this (adult) field. Defo worth a follow up call to social services. However, in my area, resources are extremely stretched (social work team is understaffed) and the providers we'd recommend for your son are also significantly under resourced due to covid.
In my area, the providers struggle to recruit, have staff at burnout and non stop absences due to covid. As such, we'd maybe initially assess your situation as non urgent. Basically, unless someone phones me and said they were in crisis, they would not be a priority.
It's a sad state of affairs.
I completely understand the pressures on our parents, especially after covid. But, at times, my social work team have gone to 'life and limb' due to lack of resources.

Ultimately, I'd recommend following up with the social work team. But don't be surprised if there is no immediate action!

Yes definitely. Everything is stretched atm so people do slip through. Different issue bit I was waiting six months for my daughter to get s physio appointment. I chased it up and she was seen within a fortnight.
Be sure you details your concerns , perhaps write a list of potential risks / problems in history before you call

Can he do a supported internship with a job coach?

I definitely think you should try but not sure how much help they will actually be able to give. ds2's transition to adult services was basically to be booted out of the system because although they can see he has needs & was under children's services they do not have resources to help him now he is 19. He does not have learning difficulties though so different profile. Good job he has nice parents. Our concern like you is what happens to him when we are gone but at least he is known to the system now.

Roughly where in the country are you?

I work in the voluntary sector with adults with learning disabilities and/or autism who need similar support that you mention. Our service is actually commissioned by our county's social services to pick up those who they do not support. It may be worth exploring what is available in your area whilst waiting for your son's assessment. For what it's worth I have seen people wait over 6 months for an assessment and still not be allocated a social worker despite having a need. Often those who live with parents & appear to be coping ok. As a previous poster said the pressure on social services is huge especially post covid.

My son is 21 has just finished a supported internship and started the job he was on for 10hrs a week. He is also autistic with mild LD. We have gone through over a years worth of rigmarole which I can only tell you was an utter waste of my time. My son recently learnt to drive after 3 years of lessons and 6 tests. So after 3 meetings over the last year with a social worker the answer was whilst he still lives with you and is doing 10hrs a week work and can drive himself places if he wants to go there is no support for him. Come back if he wants to live independently until then there are others that are more needy. When I argued that he has zero social interaction outside our family and his 10hrs at work. They said bummer there are people who never leave the house so he doesnt really qualify for any help. He does okay I guess but it is crazy silly that we can simply access no more help for him after years of an EHCP and contact with the authorities. We are now well and truly on our own for now.

Unfortunately he isn’t at the stage of being able to cope with at the movement but it’s definitely something we will look at in future.

Thank you everyone for your input, yes I know the services are very very stretched. I may look into using some of his PIP to employ someone to support him …even if it’s just a couple of hours a month.

Yep - you’ve got to be like a squeaky wheel I’m afraid. Keep calling them.

You should definitely chase.

Although the more pressing concern is you posting “He leaves at the end of May and current plan is to try and get him into a Pathways to Independence course at the local MS college.” DS’s* *EHCP should have been amended by now, if it hasn’t you need to complain to the Director of Children’s Services and threaten Judicial Review. Have you also looked a specialist colleges? And does his EHCP include OT and SALT?