What does a welfare officer do?

[Ipsos]

Hi,

I have to go to a meeting with my son's headmistress and the welfare officer this week, and I wondered if anyone might be able to explain what a welfare officer does? I'm mainly wondering if he has any power to help, or if he is just there to wield a bit stick when families are not trying hard enough.

For context, my son gets a lot of viruses, so his attendance isn't at the level that they want. He had obstructive apnoea as a baby, and lost a lot of sleep and has food intolerances. I'm not sure how this connects with the viruses, but I'm working very very hard on figuring it out. Ds's attainment in class is very good. His reading is very advanced and everything else is in the top of the normal range, so they are not worrying about him falling behind academically.

I get the impression that the headmistress is under a lot of pressure from the welfare officer.

Thanks!

Jennifer

Yes, that's good point, bluecarpet . Although my ds isn't asthmatic, he is prescribed with inhaler in case he got bad cough.

Just reading through the posts and responding in turn:

Just to clarify - Ds was only off school for two weeks with scarlet fever as he started with the infection at the beginning of a two week holiday.

Bluecarpet I know the guidance about scarlet fever but he was not eating for a month and there was no way that I was going to send him back when he was unable to eat. When I sent him back finally he was as thin as a strap and white and worn through. It took 6 months to get him back to his normal self. Catkind yes exactly. I would never send a really ill child to school. I send ds in with streaming colds at the moment when I feel he really should be at home, just because we are under heavy pressure on attendance. Irvine I'm with you. I would make sure a child was really recovered from scarlet fever, although I didn't have the choice and sent the poor lad back in a real state.

Rafa thanks so much for the part about certification of illness. Do you thing that still applies when the EWO is involved? I phoned the GP today and she said a proper medical certificate was £30.

The other thing is that the GP is quite far away and I'd be very reluctant to drag ds there when he is really not well. I do wonder if I should get a nearer GP. Our GP is far away and the parking is very expensive so we see her very rarely. When I called today she strongly implied that I was just being pfb about ds which she never would say if she had any idea at all how difficult things are.

Bluecarpet if my ds had undiagnosed CFS and scarlet fever would you still be surprised by a month not eating with scarlet fever? I've been reading and thinking a lot about this and I'm wondering if he has mild CFS following on from the obstructive apnoea. We didn't visit the GP in person at all with the scarlet fever btw, as they didn't want us too. It was done entirely by phone and I phoned up at least 10 times, with further phone calls for dh and myself when we got it.

Bluecarpet I did wonder about asthma. Ds's Dad and Grandad both struggle with asthma. The GP checked him for asthma recently and when he blew into the tube not much happened, but she said he might just be too young to do it properly. So perhaps yes, but also maybe not. He's had a cough for about 10 weeks, but so have I, so that may mean nothing.

How oof is your ds op? His attendence is only compulsory term after fifth birthday so the percentage should be calculated from there.

*old

AndNowItsSeven. He is just about to turn 6.

Btw the lovely headmistress is letting him have afternoons off this week to see if we can get him back up to full strength before the usual half-termly virus gets him. I would be so happy if we could get through a half term without illness. I am crossing all fingers. (Whilst also feeling utterly knackered because of having only two hours off today. )

Thanks so much for all this kind help that you're giving me. I'm so grateful to have people who will listen and help, and who don't say "next!" after 5 minutes of not really listening.

I know a GP who phoned an EWO to say he wanted the EWO /school to pay otherwise no note would be forth coming. They decided they didn't need it😀. Just be very clear you have to self certify for short illnesses.

The truth is 8-10 viruses a year is normal. The scarlet fever on top of that is rotten luck but he might just be that unlucky. I hope that's all it is but I would push for expert advice on his intolerances as he needs his diet optimised for calories and nutrients - I am assuming he is slim for his height.

I'm not sure. The guidance is for LAs too, so I would assume so. You may not even get anywhere with it although your HT sounds like she might able to be convinced that she doesn't need evidence and that the system doesn't require it. I wouldn't go in looking for a fight with the EWO or refuse anything outright. I would just use that passage to back you up if they suggest they have to insist on a note and have no choice. You may be able to get them to use common sense and reason.

Your bigger problem is likely to be the GP. A lot of them are starting to take a stand over LAs putting more pressure onto a cracking healthcare system and wasting appointments that aren't needed. If your won't see you, then it may be worth considering changing. Particularly if you think the nearer one may be better.

Hi Lucked Getting access to dieticians is really really hard. Privately they are really expensive, they don't really happen at all on Bupa health insurance, and the NHS ones are very hard to get hold of for more than 5 minutes. Ds is tall and slim, yes.

I think the problem is that viruses always last the full 10-14 days with us and we always feel grim for the whole time. I'm the same but I used to get just one or two long viruses a year. I now get one every 6 weeks at least, and I have a lot more of the CFS symptoms. This all started since I cared for ds 24/7 through obstructive apnoea for 3 years. If I feel this bad, then I can imagine that he is also not exactly fighting fit.

It sounds like a fresh start with a new GP could be a good thing all round.

The other thing is that the GP is quite far away and I'd be very reluctant to drag ds there when he is really not well. I do wonder if I should get a nearer GP. Our GP is far away and the parking is very expensive so we see her very rarely. When I called today she strongly implied that I was just being pfb about ds which she never would say if she had any idea at all how difficult things are.
I'd definitely change GP, as catkind says, have a fresh start.

I'm going to ask my neighbours about the GP who is nearer. I have a neighbour who has a little boy and she and the boy have all the same health problems as us. She goes to the nearer GP and they are almost always even less useful than our GP and she ends up coming to me for advice, in spite of the fact that she is a consultant medic. I'm not totally inspired by what I'm seeing from this local GP, whereas at least our lot are fairly reliably non-harmful.

Just checked with neighbour and apparently it's impossible to get an appointment at less than a week's notice at the local practice, so I don't think I'll move after all. My practice is further away but always has an appointment available at 24 hours notice. That was worth asking!

Well at least you know now.

Invisible illnesses and disabilities really are a PITA, aren't they?

That's a very fine way of putting it Rafa.

I understand ds's situation because I had slightly iffy vision as a child and it wasn't diagnosed until I figured it out myself at 28. I was determined that with ds I would get stuff like that right, but it's surprisingly hard to do.

I think it relies on others around you understanding or having some experience tbh.

Attempting to explain it was why spoon theory was invented.

At least the Head and SENCO appear to be on side, which can only help.

That's interesting about the spoons. I hadn't read about that before. Thanks for that.

Yes the head seems good and the senco is very helpful. I think I need to work on the GP.

Hello! I tried the GP again and she is going to examine ds with a view to a possible pediatrician referral. I suppose the pediatrician will probably just say "oh dear", but it's worth another go I reckon, especially now that ds is old enough to answer questions. Good to get the GP to at least listen.

Has he been checked for coeliac?

I suppose the pediatrician will probably just say "oh dear"

going in with that sort of attitude towards it will show. I know it's really difficult with an ill child but paeds are usually very good.

Well done OP!
Get as much down in writing as you can for the paed appointment then you won't get flustered. Illnesses, dates, as much as you can remember about symptoms. The more info you can give them the better. Also useful to have this stuff in writing for EWO and school.

And make sure you're clear in your head and ready to explain why you're concerned and think there's more going on than normal childhood illnesses.

Thanks cat. I'm well used to that. I'm scientist by training and profession so presenting this kind of stuff systematically is right up my street.

tinkerbell he can't be tested for coeliac without going back on wheat for a long time and that's not going to work.

My ds was tested for coeliac(in GI clinic, not in allergy clinic), but he was avoiding wheat, since he is allergic to it. I am bit confused? I can't even remember what test involved, but he definitely had intolerance test for cow's milk and wheat. And test was done in one of the top hospital in London, not at our local hospital.