HELP! letter received from LA Chief Ex - Star, Agnes and anyone else who can help

[claw4]

Ds was signed off of school by my GP due to self harming. SA was refused and im appealing.

I wrote to LA chief ex, asking how they intended to provide ds with an education. They have replied stating they have been in contact with my GP and asked him why he made this recommendation and what level of education he felt was appropriate for ds at this time.

Apparently my GP then wrote stating that ds is now well enough to attend school. (without consulting me or even seeing ds again)

I would be in touch with your GP straight away and ask if they have had contact with the LA at all. If they have then you need to be asking what was said and also why they were discussing your child without your permission.

Eh? Why is your GP discussing your ds's medical condition with the LEA?

Exactly!

Surely his psychiatrist or psychologist ( whoever you see) should decide if he is well enough for school anyway?

Ds was discharged from CAMHS and my gp referred him back there, when he signed him off.

Oh okay.
I would make an appt with the GP then to find out how he has come to this decision without actually seeing ds and why he hasn't informed you. How stressful for you. Your ds hasn't been signed off for very long has he? Do you think the lea might have maybe been a bit threatening with their approach to the GP to have caused this to happen?

agree with corny and others, you need to find out what has happened, it's not impossible that LEA may be being economical with the truth.

I just phoned my gp to make an appointment. I asked the receptionist to have a copy of this letter to hand when i attend the appointment later today.

She couldnt find a copy of the letter on the system, but you reeled off the names of EWO and a few others as letters received since signing ds off.

Seems everyone has been contacting my GP! I will be asking for copies of those letters too.

Wow - how dare they hound your GP like that? I had no idea these people were so arrogant!

The EWO who was mentioned, is the home ed officer, so why on earth has she contacted my GP. Ds isnt home ed and she had no idea when she phoned me why she had been asked to become involved.

Now i need to calm down and figure out what to say to my GP and write a list.

Good idea to write a list before you go in.

The first thing I would be concerned about is your GP writing about your child without your consent - I assume you haven't given this?

S/he should know better than to disclose confidential information without discussing this with you.

However, you will want to keep the GP onside if they are helpful. So maybe just make the framework for future communications clear e.g your consent is to be obtained for release of confidential info and a copy should go to you so everyone is 'on the same page'.

Then, you need to clarify what the long term plan is for your DS. Has the GP referred on? If so, it is reasonable to wait for this provider to make the judgment about fitness to attend school.

If the GP is saying he is able to make this decision for himself, then you are going to have to seek a second opinion or find evidence to support what you are saying.

I would clarify with your GP whether they have felt under pressure to give information to suit the LA

Hi AE, yes GP referred onto CAMHS.

According to letter from LA they asked my GP to explain why he made this recommendation, how he was assisting to address any medical issues that ds may have, and to seek advice on what level of education he felt would be appropriate for ds at the moment.

Im guessing my GP felt 'out of his depth' and it was easier just to say he can go back now.

He had explained why he made the recommendation in his letter signing him off, in view of CAMHS report and the leve of ds self harming.

He had referred onto CAMHS to address issues.

My GP is not qualified to make education recommendations, so why was he asked, surely that is for the LA to decide based on GP recommendations (which he had already given)?

Im assuming that my GP did write this, i havent had a copy. LA letter is dated 4 days ago, which i received today in which it states that my GP had written to them and provided me with a copy.

Receptionist couldnt find a copy of this letter on the 'system', but as she was looking she was reading off the names of people who had written to my GP, all of which i knew.

Yes I agree - he should not be asked to make educational recommendations but he can be asked for further information about his decision to sign your DS off school.

The big BUT to that is that he should absolutely not be discussing this without your consent.

AE i have an appointment with my GP shortly, so it should all become clearer.

I have just phoned SS as i was told once it had been discussed with their supervisor and CAMHS i would receive an outcome to their visit. So i phoned and asked when i would receive this. I was told verbally at the time, that this is not a child protection issue.

However, Im wondering whether SS involvement was used to get my GP to disclose?

Be careful - "child protection" means anyone can talk to anyone and say whatever they like WITHOUT your consent. It's also a VERY handy cloak to hide behind when they don't want you to know what's been said/written/discussed. Bitter experience

According to SW i had taken pictures of ds's sores to my GP.

When SW asked ds 'why does he scratch himself' he told her, 'cos gnats bite me'. (ds takes things literally)

School report they are not aware of ds's self harming and see no evidence of it.

Seems they are now trying to say the extensive sores all over ds's body were as a result of gnat bites.

Most of his sores have now cleared up due to not being school and antibiotic cream, he still has a few left.

Do i take him with me and force him to show the GP?

Personally I wouldn't take ds to this meeting as you want to be able to speak frankly about the situation, but that's just my opinion. You could make another appt for ds maybe tomorrow? Or could ds sit in the waiting room while you discuss the letter etc after the doctor has seen him?

I agree - you want the opportunity to speak frankly to your GP to find out whether he is prepared to help and support you through this.

Did he sign him off on specific grounds?

Be wary of child protection as has been said. Did you have a lawyer helping you?

Back from appointment, took ds with me and a friend, so ds could show his sores and then wait outside with friend so i could talk to Dr.

My Gp did not write a letter.

Letter from LA to GP which i now have a copy of it states i have been trying repeatedly to contact you by phone.

In your advice, ds's mother has removed him from school and he is currently missing education.

As you mentioned in your letter, Ds's mother has applied for a statement. He has been assessed for this and it was again agreed, by the multidisclipkinary team that he does not require a statement and school are meeting his needs. It is our opinion that ds shows no signs of self harming or anxiety in school.

I have spoken to CAMHS and they have informed me that ds was discharged in December and they were happy he could cope with school at that time.

You have not made any further referral to CAMHS which would suggest you do not feel he needs further intervention. Why have you advised that ds is not well enough to attend school.

Apparently he phoned after receiving this letter and was told verbally that a panel had decided that ds was well enough to attend school and he had stated if this was the case, then so be it.

liars!!

Claw have you tried Fiona Slomovic? Not a lawyer but a very practical and experienced advocate.

Cheaper than a lawyer too.

You need someone else involved in this to respond and show the LA a third party is aware of their behaviour

This is really outrageous! I would definately make a complaint to the LGO.