Being blocked from a diagnosis?!

[fc6362]

Hi, I think I've posted a similar thread before so my apologies. I was trying to figure out what all the issues are that I'm struggling with with my fc.
Now, after writing out all the issues and crods referencing with the nhs symptoms pages I'm 90% sure they're down to learning disabilities. On top of that we have daytime soiling and wetting issues.
My fsw and the csw are quite happy to talk about the wetting and soiling but no matter what I say to them they just do not want to help me proceed with getting a diagnosis of anything mentally! I feel like I'm going insane, banging my head against a wall repeatedly!
Has anybody else experienced this constant "blocking" from the social workers? Does anybody know why they're doing this?

Do understand you fc6362 it is unfortunate that some LA's and SW take umberage in what is a childs Stautary Right of support and help.
The new system should work as such and is no need for a instant diagnosis anymore this can be aquired as the child develops and if needed.
Contact your LA's virtual head ask for a referal too Statutary schools disability assesment team or apply direct. Child will then be put on a pathway plan as assesment (usual by outreach disability team) using OT's ,Speech theropist etc.
If further help is require and after child is seen by child phsycologist , a Educational Health Care plan will be put in place, can be reviewed each year if nessasary. Have two children at the moment one being assessed the other on a EHC plan. Both at the same time are under the wings of Community Paediatrician who were reffered via Health Worker and GP. Also are attending Genetics clinic via Child Psycologist. Eventualy all will come togeather as one support package.
Not all children will need such support as this thank goodness. But just a point
of fact support can be accssed via a number of avenue's. , without a diagnosis
which will take time.

Kits, I could have written word for word what you have written a year ago!
Our little one is 8 and it's only the last year that things have started to change.
We had a diagnosis of ADHD about 18 months ago and put on the ASD pathway.
We didn't want to medicate but dr did. About 3 months ago we were given medikinet. Only a small dose.
Teachers cannot believe the difference. The battles to do work have stopped and they are so much more focused. Even taking pride in what they do. We are so proud of them.
When they first came the senco described them as feral, egotistical and manipulative. What a change.

That's brilliant cassimin, very pleased for you.
Fasparent that's all really great info, thank you. I'm going to look into all that

But in terms of 'what difference would a diagnosis make?' The SWs are giving you a diagnosis by default. If they are talking about 'disorganised attachment' that is a serious diagnosis in itself and one that would merit some heavy duty therapeutic work for your DD.

Lateral thinking, you could always try pushing for a full assessment and therapy with somewhere like the Post Adoption Centre. They would quite likely assess the extent of the attachment issues and have a look at other stuff.

I'm only just becoming aware that attachment disorders are diagnosable. The way they said it was, in different word of course, "it's 'just' disorganised attachment so there's no need to try and get her diagnosed with anything, just keep plodding along as you are"
Obviously now I'm finding out that it (I'm thinking rad) is a diagnosable condition I'm going to push via the paediatrician and give up even trying to involve sw's until an actual medical professional diagnoses it and then I will go to them for support for her DIAGNOSED condition.

'Just' disorganised attachment! Reactive Attachment Disorder is the end of a long spectrum and tends to be diagnosed in kids who have no, or very little, concept of what an attachment to a parent figure, and hence future relationships, are all about. Disorganised attachment is similar - suggests a child who has no attachment to anyone and no real concept of how it all works.

If it's 'just' disorganised attachment, severe enough to be causing the range of issues you describe, then she is in need of specialist diagnosis and proper therapeutic help.

Sorry to say this but you may not find that paediatricians have an in depth understanding of attachment either. Since the Adoption Support Fund came into being, there are quite a few specialist providers who would do an assessment and possible interventions like Theraplay - post adoption centre, Family Futures, Chrysalis. You might like to point out to your LA that if your DD was adopted she could probably get assessment and intervention at such a provider funded via the Adoption Support Fund! Seems bonkers that my 7 year old adopted DC could get this but your 6 year old permanently fostered DD can't.

I think the Post Adoption Centre do do free or low cost parent consultations - have a look at their website.

I can't understand why 'just plod on as you are' is useful whatever the cause of her difficulties is!

I'll have a look at the post adoption centre, see if I can get anywhere with them.
Do you think that counseling would work for her? She's 6 but mentally, in the way she communicates and understands what we're saying/asking of her she's at about 3/4. They suggested counseling but then kind of back tracked and said she was too young.
This is all so frustrating

Update!
Took her to the paediatrician and had a meeting with her teacher, plus finally got to speak to the health visitor in depth. The teacher and paediatrician both read through the 2 pages of things I'd written about her. The teacher is going to write a supporting statement to go with mine and agreed with everything I'd written. The health visitor is also completely on board and wanted to make referrals however the paediatrician is also on board and is referring to child psychologist, assessment for autism amongst other things and community paediatrician who can actually do assessments.
So this is it, I'm in the right track finally!
Have a meeting with sw's next week and can't wait to see their faces when I tel them how let down I feel by them not helping me all this time!

That sounds fantastic. Well done! Just keep at it with the dogged persistence and you will get there.

Well done, shame we have too fight for everything for some of our children, shure all LA's are not the same.
As said in last post every thing will come togeather meenwhile have fun all of you. Inclusion is very important
Good luck.