Advice re: Social Services assessment

[lucyep]

Hi all

I'm after a bit of advice please. I've got SS coming out tomorrow morning to assess DD2. She cannot climb stairs due to her bad heart and now being 18 kg I'm finding it hard work carrying her up and down. They are on about a stairlift. Bathroom and toilet are downstairs. Worried about a 5 1/2 yr old using a stairlift during the night. Also about noise waking rest of the children up.

Having never had any social services involvement (they've said we manage fine on our own!) I'm wondering where we stand with trying to get them to put on an extension for DD2. She will eventually end up in a wheelchair, so it would seem sensible to have a downstairs bedroom with access to the toilet. Do they do these sort of things or would we have to fund it ourselves? We are in a council house if it makes any difference.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Hi, ive not got much experience of this but i asked for an assesment of ds need for an extension and was told that they first look at any possible way to get the child upstairs, be that either a lift or a stair lift. Then they will look at other rooms that you ahve downstairs such as a dining room that could be converted to a bedroom. To top all this off, i was then told that there was about a 3yr waiting list. We also work and it is means tested so we wouldnt have got it subsidised. Like your dd, harry will always be in a wheel chair as he is quadriplegic. Let me know how you get on please as all ssd have different rules.

Good luck

Yes SS can help you get an extention. The council will neeed a full assessment and they will fund the building work.

Well, we've basically been told what you've said dizzy. Hubby works so will be means tested. She did say that if we were on income support there would be no trouble! So much for trying to work to support your family - I won't start otherwise I won't stop.

There is a waiting list, although we come under semi-urgent. We shall just have to wait and see now....

Thanks for the advice though!

Hi, sorry to hear that. i thought different areas may be different rules. i know how you feel about being disadvantaged cos you work. Both me and my hubby work full time but that doesnt mean that we expected to have to build an extention when ds was born.

just wondered if you get DLA for her...as then you can apply to The FamilyFund..

My ds is 8 and a half and a wheelchair user. We had an SS assessment and got a £25,000 grant from the local authority. We had a ramp fitted at a cost of nearly £3000 {for a bit of concrete) and was waiting to hear from Home Adaptations Team about extension. Man finally arrived after 18 months and gave go ahead for extension as there was no room to put in a lift. That was 2 yrs ago and we were told 3 months ago that we were not getting an extension as we would have to pay an extra £9000.{which imo is bullshit as the man who drew up the plans told dh and I that it was well within budget}
This co-incides with our housing estate being turned over to a privately run housing association.
We have spent the last 4 yrs unable to decorate downstairs as we were told to wait until extension was done, we couldnt decorate upstairs for 4 yrs as we were in limbo.Planning permission was granted at beginning of year.
I have an appt with solicitor as I feel they have disregarded my sons needs and also mine as I can not lift him anymore as he is too heavy.
Also I believe the OT is a waste of space as she just flounces in and out like a yoyo,her words mean nothing.
Dont mean to put anyone off but hopefully you will get what you want.
Sorry for the rant but just thoroughly peeved.

mrs f what level of dla does your child have to be awarded to apply to the family fund?

(sorry for the hijack)

i think it's mid care/low mobility????