Child neglect

[ThisSnugPoster]

I recently left home I have a younger sibling (teen) still at home getting middle rate care and lower rate mobility DLA. They should be getting higher but mum doesnt want to lose the award all together and doesn’t have the energy to fight it. Mum has severe mental health issues and has never sought help incase she gets her child removed and she hasn’t worked for the whole of their life. Sibling has high support needs, needs supervision, and has limited and fluctuating capacity. They will never be fully independent and are a vulnerable person who will never be able to work a formal job. They are “home schooled” but expected to go and learn for themselves on the internet or with books and they dont have a teacher. They aren’t being supported to learn the skills to socialise or make friends. They are depressed because they have no friends and don’t understand why they don’t have any They have mental health issues and lack the motivation to learn and spend their entire day on the internet, mindlessly.
they need to cook for themselves but have issues with paying attention causing inevitable accidents that they are then screamed at/reprimanded for.
They have internet, electricity, rent, basic food (they won’t eat is as they have a restricted diet) and basic clothes (but they are uncomfortable as they have sensory needs) payed for by mum. They need to contribute £180 and pay for their phone, home school stuff, toiletries, food for their restricted diet, shoes and clothes and anything they want or need out of what’s left. But they can’t actually manage their money due to issues with impulsivity, memory and not understanding the value or money. If it was better managed they would better benefit from their DLA. Social services were called but the mother will never engage or let the or open the door and they always close the case. I appreciate that they are severely disabled but is there anything that can be done to get them out of the situation and improve their prospects in life?

phone social services again. It sounds like they all need help

She is being set up to fail as her disability prevents her from managing these things herself but she is expected to learn by herself even though these things can’t be learned. Social services have repeatedly been called and spoken to but as mum refuses to engage they have repeatedly closed the case. Because they’re a voluntary service she doesn’t have to engage. I don’t know why they aren’t listening it’s incredibly frustrating

I think I’ve posted this in the Category by mistake

Is the teen over 18? If so you can report on their behalf, do they have any input from other services like the hospital? If so could you contact the hospital so that they can involve the hospital social worker when they visit? Other than that do you have any time with your sibling on your own where you can talk to them about what is going on & can talk to your mum about how social services are there to help, not judge. You could offer to help fill in the forms to get DLA/PIP potentially increased, if the money went up your sibling could maybe have a tutor to help their education or be able to go to groups & get out into the world to get some independence.

Is your sibling still a child? If social services have concerns they won’t just close the case due to lack of engagement, if anything the lack of engagement would increase concerns and they’ll keep going back. If it’s disability services then yes your sibling or her parent can choose not to use their services. It depends on which part of social services they’ve been referred to and why.

call social services again, and also call NSPCC for advice

Sounds like they need help with claiming entitlements. Can you contact social services and specifically ask them to signpost to the service which will help them to complete a gp appointment for mum to get her an assessment and also to help her apply for pip. For the teen they need help to apply for an ehcp which will last until they are 25 and help them access an education package that they need maybe a special school or help at college. The service can also help to apply for higher level dla. EHCP will also include therapies that the teen needs. This doesn’t need to be social services at all but a local organisation that they can be referred to.