please tell me all i need to know about social workers

[anonandlikeit]

I think we may need to get a social worker, at a couple of recent appnts we have discussed additional things that I think may be easier to access via a social worker.
We want to start thinking about soem supported activities for ds2 giving us a bit of a break and also some home adaptations.

DS2 is nearly 8 with dx of ASD & mild CP. we ahve never had any involvement from SS or any form of respite.

How do we go about requesting a SW?
Are they really needed in order to get what ds2 needs?
What should i know before i approach SS?

You write to your Social Services department requesting an assessment under the Children's Act.

You can 'go it alone' but that would depend on what you require. respite would be granted via the SS.

You should know before you approach them that they are cash-strapped, if you look as though you can cope they'll leave you to do so without help, and that personally i found them totally uselesss.

Can you get someone to refer you? School referred me - that is when they were still talking to me - because they were having such difficulties dealing with him they thought we needed help too!

They talked to school about his difficulties, came to visit us at home, asked for dx. papers and then granted us a small sum for respite.

we was refered by community paed but still waiting not even had a call from them

Thanks all - Paed, psych or OT would all refer us I guess as it is at appnts with them that we have been discussing his needs.

Thing is I don't know if our needs are that great IYKWIM or am I just used to dealing with it all. ds2 does not have challenging behaviour in the sense that he is violent or aggressive etc. In fact he is sooooo compliant but his routines etc rule the house and he hates leaving the house so we are becoming more and more house bound because of his anxieties.
We also need an updstairs toilet added.
ITs his long term independance i think we need to start looking at.
Thanks again for the info

There are usually two different teams of SS - in our area it's called Children with Disabilities and the other is Child and Family. You want the Disabilities team - the other team is primary dealing with neglect etc.

Unfortunately the Disabilities team often has quite a high threshold for taking referrals and will sometimes refuse more higher-functioning cases, but you can get advice on how to deal with that if it happens.

I'm afraid I'm another one who has found SS unhelpful, and also rather intrusive. But it is the gateway to things like respite, so if you do need it, I would at least ask how things are in your area.

If you're looking at supported activities, there may be things available without going through SS, such as groups run by NAS or other charities. Have you checked with your local branch to see what's available in your area?

Some useful information on getting an assessment here. You should ask for a Carer's assessment as well as the children's assessment - to look at your own needs.

Make any requests in writing (sent recorded delivery) and try to get their email so you can get things done/confirmed in writing. If they do a home visit, try to have someone else there to support you (and be a witness).

Thanks sugarcandy - we get hr care & hr mobility but if they came & looked at home I'm sure they would just see a little boy watching a DVD, cos thats all he ever does. not really warranting ss involvement.

I have asked about some supported activites through the Aiming high scheme & we are waiting for an assessment for a personal budget to buy in some support. I beleive you can only access support from one dept so if we get the personal budget e wouldn't then qualify for anything from SS?? I think thats how it works locally?

I'll contact SS on Monday and get the ball rolling as I think for the bathroom stuff we will try applying for a Disabled facitlites grant & I'm guessing that will be a whole other bunch of hoops to jump through.

yes we cant acess lot of the playschemes without a Sw report

Similar situation myself but DS 11 now 12 - was very apprehensive but must say I have been pleasantly surprised. Was a bit intrusive at 1st and she did insist on offering some crap advice based on short observations visists that messed up our routines lol, but this summer ds has a supported activity through local youth club every week! Some weeks 2/3 1/2 days other weeks full days! I was very specific in my requirements i.e. to expand ds's social skills as I have 2 little ones that make me accompanying him difficult/impossible - the emphasis being on his needs rather than respite 4 us ( though they add up to the same lol). She has also been very helpful with general information and I think will be very helpful as Ds gets older with reference to post 16 -

Thanks Gotabook, its good to hear a positive outcome.

We had a SS assessment to get direct payments and then a follow up a few years later to increase it. We were also able to access some aiming high services because of this. It wasn't too intrusive and well worth it in the long term.

not much to add.
but please remember on thing....they are not your friend.

Re 2shoes - have you had a ''bad'' experience ?- I was very apprehensive and was and am careful to present ourselves as stressed but not ''overwhelmed'

Some of her observations have been very strange and her conclusions far from the real situation but nothing worth a major challange - yet!

not expecting them to be just want them when i need it to tick box to let ds join some of the holiday activties .

Had one in last area first meeting he was arse reduced me to tears , Second meeting I took control and enjoyed hauling them over slightly , but in the end he felt was nothing they could offer us and by that point I did agree was hassle i did not need

But now ds older cant acess playschemes without their support

not really, just found out that the sw couldn't "support" us with our fight to keep dd at her present school post 16.
they could only back what the LEA wanted.
so all though they help us a lot, I think you just can't trust too much.