Statutory assessment - what if your dc refuses to see the professionals

[Peaceflower]

Dd (12) is AS and is being assessed for a statement. She refused to see the Ed psych last week.

Recently she has also refused to see her GP for a chest infection, resulting in an ambulance visit to hospital. She has also refused to see the dentist for a check up, and to go to family therapy.

She has not left the house for about 7 weeks.

I have now received an appointment to see a Consultant Paediatrician. I doubt very much she will go to see him.

Can I refuse, and what would be the possible consequences? Or are there any alternatives?

Help!

It shouldn't matter. She has a SN, they are ALL difficult to access in one way or another (think IQ). It is up to THEM to figure out how they are going to get the information they need. Perhas the professionals can come to your home, visit the school to observe etc etc. They'll say it can't be done but it can.

CS, thank you.

Peaceflower, this must be very stressful for you.

I think it depends very much on what you want to come out of the SA process and possibly whether you think you'll end up at tribunal.

I had a slightly similar issue, where DS needed some more specific recommendations but he has already seen enough professionals who had done assessments on him. I didn't feel it would help him to have to see yet another person so I asked if they could write an overarching report based on the other assessments. The advice I got was that, for a tribunal situation, any witnesses/key reports need to be done by someone who has seen the child. It's just too much of a risk that the panel might dismiss their evidence if they admit that they haven't actually met the child (even if the child won't co-operate with assessments).

It might also strengthen your case if the paed can see the behaviour for himself. DS wasn't keen on seeing the paed, but he wrote up how DS hid under the tables, refused to engage etc. which was actually useful evidence in the end.

I think in your situation, I'd be worried that the situation might be twisted by the LA by them saying that you were refusing to let the professionals see your child? I hope I'm not being too cynical!

I would definitely ask for a home visit. Is there any chance of using bribery rewards for your DD to make just a single visit?

Ed Pyschs will visit at home - ours did. I expect Paeds will too.

However at age 12 you have parental responsibility - it shouldn't be her choice. A firmer hand here may be required.

You both make a lot of sense, and you are stating what I'm thinking. However, bribery has never worked with her...nor threats... Nothing works.

She has not got out of her Pjs for 7 weeks, she is 5 ft 4 tall, and I cannot make her get dressed.

I suspect the only way to avoid being accused of not cooperating is to invite them to come, and they can then see she won't see them.

The only bribe that might work is :) an IPad - she covets mine, but that's too high a price...........!

The other thing that you could do is to video her and present that to the experts if they will not come out.