need some advice about caf assessment and what next?

[peeapod]

i had an assessment of my percieved needs when baby comes along because i have mental health problems. It was wrapped up to me in the guise of care and support, but the assessment felt different. I got the written report back and its a really negative document about all the things i cant do and the concerns about babies wellbeing (mostly unjustified). It makes me and my oh out to be incapable and the standards that we would have to achieve are ridicously high.
With all the stuff in the news about the mum who had her baby taken off her because of her mh it leaves me feeling pretty powerless to complain. I mean the mw complained about the state of the place, but we were just about to move.
Not only that but she wrote more concerns on the form after we had signed it and wrote factually incorrect information about my impairment too.
As shes my named mw i feel i have no choice but to get anew one, something thats quite easy because iv moved. My concern is that the new mw sides with the assessment thats been done or worse, and i feel i dont have any way to complain about this for fear of reprisal.
I really want a new assessment done, in fact iv written my own assessment which is a more realasitic and positively framed account. But i just dont feel i have the power to make it happen.
Anyone got any suggestioons?

A caf is usually a supportive thing, where you work with a social worker and other team members to help you cope. It should work in your favour as long as you attend all meetings,follow advice and are honest. As a primary school teacher I have some experience of working with people involved in a caf team but have no direct experience.

As for factually incorrect reports of your illness, why not as your doctor to write a report and give it to the midwife/social worker?

its not been my experience. The gp doesnt know anything about my health. I hate all this professional doing this, when im perfectly capable of providing my own assessment of what my needs are and what my condition is, but this is again making me sound stubborn and awkward, when it should be reasonable
...

If your gp doesn't know,do you have a consultant?you must have a medical professional who diagnosed your condition?

The best way that you can help yourself is to be incredibly patient and not lose your temper no matter how unfair it may seem at times to be assessed by strangers. To a point it is a game you need to play, and if you prove yourself a responsible, appropriately prepared future-parent they will back off soon enough. Social workers are hugely busy and will not hassle someone who can take of their business, they just need to see the proof that you will. The best way to do this is to attend all your appointments and if you absolutely can't make some, make sure you reschedule them. Not attending appointments is seen as a warning sign that you may neglect baby'important health appointments in the future, too. Go to antenatal classes, read books and get things for ready for the baby and remember to talk about how much you have done to prepare for the baby. This will be seen as very positive. If you get home visits, your place does not have to be immaculate but you need to make it safe for the baby so things like medicine, chemicals and alcohol need to be stored out of reach and sight. Yes it may seem a bit petty before the baby is born but they want to see that it will be safe for this baby to live with you.

I hope you have nice supportive adults around to lean on for support, try not to get too down even though it may seem hard. If there are false statements or mistakes made these will correct themselves with time once people get to know you properly. Remember there are people out there with horrendous alcohol, drug, domestic violence and mental health problems so they are just doing their job by being a little suspicious, but all that will blow over once you prove that you can act responsibly. A child will not be removed from the mother if she has mental health problems, only if she doesn't ackowledge her condition and commit to treatment. If someone is taking mental health medication and seeing a psychiatrist or a counsellor regularly that is actually seen as a positive because then the condition is managed and under control.

Keep your chin up x