S**T, they've identified a worker!

[devientenigma]

I get holiday help. However this summer the SW has employed his home school teacher to do it apart from 2 weeks when she is on holiday. Then I was supposed to be getting our usual worker. I have text her a few times but nothing back, so on Monday I let the SW know not to pay as I had no one. It meant going it alone this week and next. Just opened my emails to find they have found someone!!

I hate this meeting someone new and telling them about DS etc and just wish the whole scenario would do one!!

We have had many different workers who turn up once and don't cope with him so don't come back and it's a lot of hassle to go through short term, maybe even once. I feel the usual worker is trying to get out of looking after him also, sorry it all just sickens me. Thanks for the rant though x

we got funding from social services this holiday,(first time ever) just didn't work out, they went to agency to get someone to take my dd to activities and stay with her, we booked and paid for activities, the agency had agreed all of this, then night before worker should come, got a phonecall saying the worker can't take dd out of the house, she can only sit with her while dd keeps herself busy, if dd is very lucky they might take her a walk around the block.my dd had 3yrs where she couldn't leave the house, now they want to make her stay in and go back to square one.

Why can't they take her out of the house? That's not respite!!!!

For many this would be an opportunity to get the housework done while the child is occupied, or even to go out themselves (I wouldn't wanna trot off to the supermarket leaving a stranger in my house).

Why is DD expected to "keep herself busy". Can't the worker bring a craft activity or summat to broaden her horizons a bit? Isn't the worker supposed to provide companionship?

Sorry david but that sounds totally bonkers - I hope you've logged a formal complaint. (In your shoes I'd want a refund for the activities at the VERY methinks!).

Dev - I sympathise. One of the BEST things about the summer holidays for me, is not having to meet any professionals for a month and trot out the same ol' explanations I've already done a 1000 times for others. This summer has been totally ruined for me by having to meet with my sibling's pro's, instead of my son's. I need respite from the "system" as a whole right now, and can't get it.

sw came out and did assesment to get funding for agency worker to take dd out, also said worker would be a driver as dd struggles with buses if they are busy, taken yrs for me to get her on a bus, i don't drive.....agency workers came out and asked dd for times and dates of activites, told dd she would have to use public transport as even if she gets a driver they aren't insured to take her in car, dd agreed to use public transport, and pay the workers travel, food, drink, and cost of tickets to drayton manor, and other activities that needed paying for, workers told dd to book everything as this would start in 4 days time, then night before drayton manor trip we got a call saying they can't take dd out and will have to stay home with dd for 8hrs a week, (whole day) should of said my dd is 18 and she has asd,apd,ptsd, and other things, she can't cope with change so it's made my life hell. agency won't back down, dd does crafts every day, they said ok they can sit with her while she goes on computer, or watch dvd, she can do this without them, sorry i'm angry with them all we get are promises that come to nothing, should be used to this by now.

You have every right to be furious!

demand they refund you the cost of the actvities.

Could the family fund cover the cost of a driving course for you? I think an intensive course is around £1400. With a car you might be able to be less of a prisoner.

Why aren't they insured to take her in a car? This is blatent disability discrimination at it's finest methinks.

Formal complaint to your head of social care at the council. Copied to MP/councillor.

Oh Devient - That must be really stressful. I know what you mean; sometimes the stress of setting up the 'help' causes more exhaustion than if you didn't have help at all.

Let's face it, none of us want to have other people meddling with our children, do they?

I hope it's more painless than you anticipate.

Direct payments. Now.

and sack the useless agency asap.
A well-trained cab firm could do a better job than this.

dd's sw is on holiday, (has been for last 3 weeks) been trying to contact duty one and kept getting told they would phone me.....got a call from them today, saying been trying to phone me for weeks....agency have told ss they have been sending worker out to my house and we are never home.....complete lies, told sw this and she phoned agency and told them this, next phonecall from ss, agency have never met my dd, no risk assesment has been done etc......can't understand why 2 agency workers sat in my house doing paperwork, left us a care plan, and they sat here 2hrs 3 weeks ago.and told us to book and pay for activities.i'm still waiting for a call back from sw as she said agency will still get paid even though they haven't supported my dd in any activity.......i'm so angry with them. trying not to let this show in front of dd as she has real trust issues and wouldn't trust this agency or ss ever again