Someone somewhere has it in for me I am sure

[coff33pot]

Just opened a letter (oh yeah its the saturday dwell on the doom till Monday post again!)

Here we go again. Letter posted Thurs to tell me a SW is coming on MONDAY to discuss a referral received to their department (referral and assessment dept)

I have been happy DS has been the happiest he has been and all is going wonderful with the transition set up from home to Juniors. Great courses, great insight and we have felt we are seeing the light.

And now some bugger has gone and done this. He is not a child in need we are a family in need who needs to be left the hell alone!

The time limit on visiting means it must be important for them to want to come so quick. Paranoia is setting in plus anger.

First old school trying to contact camhs and failing now this.

Bloody hell but would echo zzzzz's advice too

Its DS I am worried about. I have been drip feeding him bits and pieces as he is becoming aware of some of his differences and have got him to realise the ASD Team are there to help him and help people understand him.

He is terrified of police and personal questions etc.

I am trying to put it in my mind that some neighbour has stuck their nose in in noticing DS is not at school and of course is not aware of our circumstances.

I am looking at him now and he is covered head to foot in bruises 6 of which he collected on his shins roller skating at the roller disco yesterday!

If its something to do with his old school the senco best go on a long holiday.

Must remember my advice to other people and bake buns and look normal but its wearing thin.

Flipping heck, coff33. What a blinking rollercoaster you've been on! Great that new school is on side. You've done nothing wrong, you have been doing the best for your DS. I bet it is the **ing infant school trying to drop you in it to make themselves look better. You will be fine, it's obvious to anyone that your DS's welfare is your main concern. New school visits etc are all good evidence. ((((hugs))))

I was looking at social worker referral the other day as I thought it might be useful to get some respite over the summer or to see if there were any special needs summer schemes etc. I believe it said you could self refer for an assessment or a GP, health visitor or professional such as OT, SaLt could refer. Would that be possible < clutches at positive straws> I think if you try and view it in a positive way when SW arrives and say " great we are doing fantastically well but what other support is there are there special summer schemes etc etc"

There is a section on Social worker assessment on the Contact a family site Coff. If you read that it is positively glowing about these assessments and gives you a list of things you may be entitled to from the social worker. If you ask for everything she might just regret visiting in the first place

Thanks Holy off to look at the contact a family site now :)

You are right it could be something to do with a referral from someone sensible!

OT or SALT wouldnt have as they know us well. The ASD Team might I am not sure how they operate but I know they have been great where transition is concerned and we were due a home visit but sick to cancelled till next week. I would have thought they would have visited us first before referring anywhere else but like I said I am not sure how they operate. The ASD member did compliment me and say I could have written his whole awareness report myself that he was going to send to school which made me feel better so it wouldnt be a referral in a bad way if it was from them.

Camhs may have as they did say although from the Autism point DS file is now closed (that is as far as they go as no provision for ASD) they will look up as much as they can and courses etc for the ADHD side of things and I also asked to go on an adhd parenting course? They want copy of his reports to keep them in the loop as they said we might need them at different stages of his "growing up" with the adhd possibly which is fine as it keeps him in the loop.

The LA are aware DS is now Elective HE whilst preparing transistion and are supportive of this and amending his statement with all the new stuff from london for the new school I cant fault what they have been doing. EWO know he is out of school and that it is better for him,are in no hurry seeing me as they dont want to see me till the summer hols start and by then he is on his way to start his new school. So I cant see why a SW would need to see him for that.

A nosy neighbour could be a part seeing as I let DS de stress on his skates or scooter twice a day when it is quiet. And he has told people he is on holiday till he goes to a better school. But then my DD has never been off school at all.

Something in my water is telling me its the infants but I doubt the SW will tell me unless its a routine request.

Ok so I need to make a list of wants to scare them off

Doubtful about respite breaks but a summer club would be nice for him as we are so short/non existent of SN groups here.

Perhaps it is just standard procedure if a child is being HE? I'm sure it is nothing sinister Coff if a neighbour had reported truancy a truancy officer would contact you I would guess not a social worker for an assessment? The ASD unit seems like a likely option they sound very good and it is perhaps just a reschedule of the appt you cancelled. According to the CAF site it is a positive thing so make the most of it and get as much assistance and support as you can and of course let us know how it goes < super nosey>

ack, someone like you has nothing to worry about re; visit from SW, but they have a duty to follow up any information they have been (correctly or incorrectly) given.

just be as you are, if anything the visit will be a bonus and as PPs have said, you might even access some support

Ah no they cancelled we were all ready to meet the ASD Team :)

I looked on CAF site but that seems to be the disability services team where as this is not them so to speak. Its Childrens Social Work & Psychology Service?

I cant see them helping us with DP towards clubs or short breaks or anything as we are self employed (for all our sins!) and although skint not on any sort of benefit and most things are income based I think which is so up and down with us. Mostly down LOL.

We will see. Off out now for a car ride to clear the mind with DS a bit. Its just so annoying you cannot phone over the weekend but they know this dont they.....

oooh! can I ask for an accountant so I can spend more quality time with DS and Fam pushing it though

definitely

i think the 'Childrens Services and Psychology' is prob a fancy name they had to dream up when 2 depts were merged by some penny-pinching exercise

hope the drive helps

Still ask for stuff!

LOL! ok Star I will ask for "stuff" I promise

Good drive, loud music and some retail therapy (school uniform for dd next school but hey she looked smart!) Latte and now listening to happy songs.

At work all day tomorrow so too busy to worry about it but will probably freak when I see the state of the place when I get home lol

Eldest DD just said it is odd that they didnt say who referred if it was all above board. THANKS DD!

There is a protocol for referring. Usually the referer is supposed to tell you. The SW will probably tell you.

When SW arrives be all sweetness and light and ask who made referral and say you are genuinely interested as you believe perhaps you have been referred to the wrong dept and you feel perhaps a referral to the disability services team would be more appropriate so you can access support and assistance. Ask her what support and assistance her dept offers as opposed to the disability services. That should put her on the back foot. Have you looked up her dept to see actually what it is they do? Is it appropriate that ASD is viewed as a psychological issue rather than a disability just a thought?

At the very least ask for a list of groups and charities and funding bodies. You might think you know them all but they change and your Ds' eligibility can change.

Also ask about sibling support if relevant, and (although you don't actually need to follow it up) opportunities to volunteer/support other families.

Complex and Acute Services

Referral, Investigation and Assessment
Child Protection
Children in Care

Specialist Provision

Family Placement
Adoption and Family Finding Service
Respite Services
Residential Services
Leaving Care Service
Quality and Safeguarding

This is all it says so it could be a multitude of things but seeing as the assessment bit is in the top group following child protection I am doubtful it is a good thing...... I shouldnt of looked.

I will do as you have said and ask what they offer etc. I do want to know about any groups ds could go to etc and sibling groups would be good for DD too.
Funnily enough I have emailed NAS local to see if they need any volounteers :)

Don't worry about not qualify for support financially. Support and services for children aren't means tested at all. We have never been asked anything about our finances.

What time is your assessment Coff? Let us know how it goes best of luck x

Good luck coff x

Yes, honk!

Sending you positive vibes coff x

Honk Honk

oh thank you for the Honks :) I am certainly flapping about at the moment!

The appointment is at 3pm. I rang this morning and was told the SW was unavailable (theres a thing)

Told them I am confused as to where this referral is from. Said the appointment time is fine but can the SW phone me back to discuss first as I need to prepare DS for someone coming as it will either work one of two ways. DS will either not talk to them or the SW wont get a word in edgeways because DS wont be satisfied until he knows everything up to the SW shoe size before he so much as lets the SW speak!

Also said I donot talk about anything private infront of DS as he has had enough assessments for dx and as the house is open plan I have nowhere to put DS where he wont hear and he wouldnt leave me anyway when someone is in the house. Asked if the SW would be good enough to call me and discuss anything first so we can get down to any nitty gritty when he comes without upsetting DS.

No call back as yet though. DS is well worked up this morning his sixth sense is unbelievable.