core assessment

[davidsotherhalf]

my dd is 17 and we have been trying to get respite care for 2yrs we keep getting refused.i was told by sw that dd has to have a core assessment for me to get respite care.I thought that a carers assessment should be done but have been refused this. What is a core assessment and what's the purpose of this?...i was told that the ss are going to arrange a multi agency meeting for all the ppl who support the family and work with dd...my response was that's not going to take long to sort could be held in phonebox down the road.....sorry but we haven't had any support from anyone every time i contacted ss etc they came out once and closed the case. this happened 5 times in 2yrs

If you request an assessment as far as I know they have to do an initial assessment and then if they think there may be needs they have to do a core assessment. They cannot decide not to give respite without doing any assessment.

There are 2 assessments one for the disabled child and one for the carer. Put your request in writing. Do you have reasons for refusal in writing? If not ask for written reasons. If you feel they have not followed procedure properly you need to make a formal complaint to the Council and you can then go to the Local Government Ombudsman. If you have an urgent need for help you can consider judicial review of any decision and get legal advice from a solicitor (legal aid is in the name of the child so usually no cost to you) to challenge the decision.

Useful info here
and info on the law here - look at cemented to the floor and the legal handbook

You need to request a carer's assessment and quote the carer's recognition Act and also remind them that because you care for a ds child the same rights extend to you I think its called disibility discrimination there was a high court ruling that extended the rights to you, give me some time and I will find it for you.

They can refuse to assess, but cannot take away your right to request one. I would send in an official complaint to the LA complaints department detailing that you are a primary carer of ds and that he is a child in need as defined by section of the Children Act 1989 and without this assessment and provision of service that he will suffer undue dis-stress and you will seek legal advice with a view to making the LA accountable for their actions.

Social Workers are just watching their budgets unfortunatly, I would also advise that you will consider an independent assessment by a social worker, this usually gets them moving. Oh and ask for a copy of their thresholds

I hope this helps

i have been trying to contact the social worker again every time i phone i get told yes sw is in what's your name childs name etc then i get told oh sw is on leave. i asked for her supervisor was told she's on leave as well every time i ask they will be back the next day and they never are. last time i asked for carers assesment i was told she's your dd get on with it. dd is in transition so we have 2 sw but adult sw has been on leave for 4 weeks now and always get told she will be back tomorrow and tomorrow never comes.i have tried complaints as i have been putting everything in writing to sw and his supervisor who have not done anything to help. now i have been told by complaints dept his supervisor is going to investigate him and herself. should i go to the ombudsman?

I would say you need to remind them that ethically it is inappropriate for a supervisor to investigate a complaint about herself. I would advise that it needs to be her line manager at the very least and if this is not forthcoming you will be taking the complaint to the next stage.

In LA there are 3 stages to a complaint,

Stage one is dealt with internally and can take upto 10 working days to respond, if its a complex complaint can take 20 working days but they have a duty to inform you.

Stage two is dealt with usually by an external investigator, so I would always advise if not happy with response to stage one complaint go to stage 2 as is semi independent.

Stage three is a complaint heard by a panel of three independent people and is the final tier before going to the ombudsman, before the ombudsman will deal with your complaint you need to have exhausted the above procedure first.

I hope that helps, but dont give up, LA worry if they get a stage two complaint, and will take you more seriously if you progress it that far.

Yes go to ombudsman (LGO) now. It does not sound as tho they have put your complaints thru proper complaint procedure but that's not your fault. LGO should get things moving. LGO may make the council put it through complaints procedure but if you explain about urgency they may investigate without going to stage 2 or 3. And most likely they will just try and get to the bottom of why you have not had the assessment. Even if you have to go thru stage 2 as the request will have come from Lgo the council should make an effort to do it properly. So yes ask the LGO to help now.