Can we request a new Social Worker?

[Tara336]

DF was sectioned in January under Section 2 of the MH act, ever since then he has been in a specialist unit. We had a CPA meeting in February regarding my DF and the next steps etc. At this meeting we were advised we would hear from a SW who would guide us through the process. We heard from her 5 weeks later, wanting financial assessment forms completing and saying it was urgent as she only had a week to do it all and get DF moved as the unit wanted the space.

I explained I didn't live nearby and I'd have to drive up to DPs house (130 miles) to get all the information needed to complete the forms. The SW said she would email and post the forms. I asked for her contact details and she said I couldn't have them!?

I kept checking with DM for 2 weeks and she had no forms, I hadn't got any via email either.

I then received a snotty email chasing the forms and I politely replied were still waiting for them. They were emailed over to me with a really rude reply. I showed other family members the email and they were shocked at the tone.

On the day that we received the forms I received a phone call from the MH team saying DF was being sectioned again this time under Section 3. The SW called me chasing the forms and I advised her DF was being sectioned again that day and I proceeded to ask what happens next? Every question was met with "I don't know" .

The SW said she'd call the MH unit and speak to them, I didn't hear back ans we held off sending the forms as I did some research and found that if could be 6 months before DF is moved to a home.

Last week SW calls me again and chases the forms. I said DF is sectioned do you really still need them? She said she didn't know DF was sectioned, despite me telling her the week before!

I had the discharge co ordinator call me the same day, I advised her DF was sectioned again and she proceeded to advice that he would then be on 117 which means due to his needs that the care home would be funded and we can top up but looking at his notes thats not going to be imminent. This lady was so helpful in my 20 minute call with her i had so much info not only on DF discharge to a home but his general wellbeing etc.

The lady said your SW should be telling you all this! When I explained that she was only interested in forms and nothing else the lady was more candid and said she understood as she had made a complaint about our SW to the managers stashe was not being helpful/response was slow etc which in fact why she had contacted me direct.

Can we request a new SW? How do we go about it?

Tell her. I'd like to change sw'er please. She'll automatically tell you it's not possible. Insist.

@Oblomov23 thank you, so I will have to ask our SW direct? What a crazy system! We had a fabulous guy before this one, I can't praise him highly enough! This one is rude, disinterested and disorganised. I have made an effort to be friendly and polite but she's constantly rude to me and puts pressure on us all the time to effectively make up for her failings. I'd love to have our original SW back, he kept us updated and recognised in all of this that my DF is fading away and we are all worried sick.

Does her email say which team she works in? You could call the switchboard and ask for the team managers name and email. If her team name is not mentioned you could ask the financial assessment team as they may have access to that information or you could ask the switchboard for duty team details who will be able to tell you. Keep an email trail/ timeline record of your interactions with the SW.

We had problems with my uncles social worker and the financial assessment team. My uncle was fit for discharge but remained in hospital for over 6 months because of the inadequacy. The only way we got resolution was from raising an official complaint with the local authority. The system is broken due to underfunding and Tory policy unfortunately.

The social worker will almost certainly be from the CMHT (community mental health team) depending on your DFs age and local area it may be a specific older people's CMHT. If you don't have their contact details you should just be able to Google the area he lives in and "CMHT" "older people's CMHT" to find the number. Speak to the team manager and complain and ask to change. They may say they will struggle to allocate someone which is likely true but you can insist and at least in the meantime you know they will have an eye on your DFs case.

The ward might know what team she's from, ask them. Call the team, ask for the manager, say you want a change or you'll be putting in a formal complaint

Thank you for all your comments, it's a relief to know we don't have to be stuck with her! I don't really want any bad feeling with her but with everything else we are having to cope with DF being so ill now I don't want to have to battle with incompetentance as well

That sounds really unprofessional of the social worker and you should have her details I am not sure why she hasn't shared them with you. Yes he will get automatic entitlement to 117 funding which if he is going into a home should pay his care fees. People on 117 funding can actually pay their own top up fees, usually families have to pay them as a third party cost and he will keep his pension etc. You don't need to fill out the financial paperwork unless you need help with claiming benefits. The social worker should be keeping you updated. Xx

That sounds really unprofessional of the social worker and you should have her details I am not sure why she hasn't shared them with you. Yes he will get automatic entitlement to 117 funding which if he is going into a home should pay his care fees. People on 117 funding can actually pay their own top up fees, usually families have to pay them as a third party cost and he will keep his pension etc. You don't need to fill out the financial paperwork unless you need help with claiming benefits. The social worker should be keeping you updated. Xx

She will probably leave soon anyway. From experience they usually last 3 -9 months before they go off sick.

Can I ask what 117 is p,ease?

It is a section of the mental health act that says people are entitled to after care if they have been on certain sections for treatment (including section 3) and that this should be funded. After care can be care at home or somewhere else including care homes for some people.

@Louisetopaz21 she's been unprofessional from the start tbh. We were told we would hear from her within a week of the CPA meeting but didn't, she's chased me constantly for the financial assessment forms but not sent them! When I said last week do we still need to complete the forms because DF suddenly been sectioned again she insisted they did, but that didn't make sense to me as I'd been told he could be held up to 6 months so they may be out of date by then as we have been trying to streamline all of my parents finances as they had bank accounts all over the place. She said you can't hide money, I said we aren't we are trying to put even one place as some of the local branches of the banks had closed and DM couldn't access her and DF money.

It's come across as all she knows how to do is financial assessment forms and nothing else. If I ask any questions outside of that she says she doesn't know! Turns out DF will get 117 now as he's sectioned so her forms are irrelevant.

In my team, it be unlikely they would swap SW due to waiting times etc but they would try to resolve the issues between the family member and the SW.

I do find it strange she was more interested in the FA forms then about your dad welfare, there should be a financial team who deal with that side.

@safetyfreak shes not been that interested in my dad at all tbh, when I told her he'd been sectioned again she said she would call the MHU but didn't bother I had to remind her he had been sectioned when she chased me the following week for the financial assessment forms. I'd said previously I was worried sick my dad was sinking fast and she couldn't have been less interested.

I've always made a concerted effort to be polite because I know its not the easiest of jobs, but the tone of the calls and emails is awful!

I hope your dad gets better soon and hopefully they will allocate a new social worker. It must be really stressful for you as a family and finances will be the last thing on your mind. Prior to him being discharged off his section they will have a discharge meeting which the social worker will have to look for a placement for dad. Make sure that the home applies for a dols which is a safeguard for him xx

@Louisetopaz21 thank you, hes had a DOLS order after they lifted section 2 but now its the section 3 because he detiorated again. I'm not sure if he will ever to get to a home as he's not eating now and is so frail. This SW is definitely adding to the stress of it all x

I would complain to her manager. Send the emails on to them so they can see the problem.

Awww your poor dad, make sure you look after yourself and as a social worker myself, I always say a person comes before money xx