Quickie, and v specific.
Like anyone lucky enough to get a pittance of support from Social Services, we have regular reviews and at each they produce a thing called a "care plan" which says precisely what the pittance is. We are supposed to sign it.
I have always quietly avoided signing it, because that implies I agree with the pittance and I don't. Not that I have a problem with the SW or the way they have done it, but I know we need more help than we are assessed for or awarded and I know we aren't going to get it and it seems to me that a system where you are forced either to sign off on something you don't agree with or take them through a lengthy painful complaints process that won't change anything is a system that stinks and I'm not complying with it.
So far this has worked just fine. Now I have a new SW and she wants me to sign it. Can she make me? Can they take the package away if I don't?
Also, for one reason or another we haven't had a review recently - DD1 was ill so I had to miss a meeting, then the SW was ill so she didn't turn up to the next one, then she sent me a mail asking when we could meet next and I said ask me again when we get back from holiday ... and now I have a letter from this same SW saying that a review is a legal requirement and unless I turn up for one pronto they will take our entire package away. Can they do this, legally? DD1 has a SEN review in June and we've always booked our SS reviews same day just because it's the easiest place & time to meet and I don't see why we can't do that again. The package isn't going to decrease because nothing has changed which will allow them to do that legally. And it's not going to increase because they have no money. So it's just a box-ticking exercise.