why are there no laws to protect care packages if you move county?

[OwlLady]

as far as I understand it if you move within the same county your care package stays the same and it is illegal to reduce your care package unless social services can prove that your dependants condition has improved.

Why is this not the same if you move county?

I moved county over two years ago now and have had an ongoing battle for services and I just find ethically and morally repulsive. How on earth is it allowed to happen?

It's complicated, but depending on the other services available your care needs can be different.

For example, if your LA never provides after school facilities for children with disabilities then that might justify a repite carer to come to your house twice a week, but the new LA might have facilities attached to their schools so you won't need that.

Also, in new county it might be run by a voluntary organisation on a contract, but in your current by the LA.

So, the LA might not be 'reducing' the care package, but adapting it to your new needs in your new county that have resulted from your move iyswim.

However, if you move from pretty much anywhere to Hertfordshire they will insist that all care needs are unnecessary for pretty much everyone, and if you demonstrate you are struggling, threaten child protection. Bastards.

hmm I am not far from Hertfordshire at all

My daughters package was reduced to zero SM. She received 12 hours support per week in our previous county. Mostly direct payments but also a regular link carer (who was voluntary) I was told as the care package was so small versus my childs level of need the new county would honour that. What actually happened was they requested her file and erm, ignored it completely. Said I needed to go on a parenting course and then everything would be fine God it is has been an absolute nightmare. I just don't know how it is allowed to happen when you have such a severely disabled child

Ah that'd be essex then!?

I'm so sorry. Have you spoken to Contact a Family? They are quite good advocates for this kind of thing.

Okay, not essex.

The home counties are the worst for this ime. And will tell you that you don't meet the criteria because there are others worse off.

Have you got a copy of their criteria, and have you had a SW assessment?

as per my PM, yes they have done the there are worse off people than you line and the 'other families cope' 'if we gave you this ALL families would want it' etc, argh!

I meet part B of the criteria, without a doubt, most probably A atm. SW assessment detailed how severe the condition was and offered minimal support. carers assessment was a peice of paper to fill in I am now at a stage 2 complaint and have been given a new social worker (fingers crossed please) but it's a hellish battle. We are only a few years off adult care and it worries me to death, it really does

Owl When I read your post, my initial thought was "wait until she tries going from Childrens Services to Adult Services within the same county!" and then I saw your comment at the end of your last post! Having gone into the adult system in October last year with DD who has PMLD and Complex health needs - it is everything you are dreading and more.....

In a way it is easier to understand why it is difficult if you move counties, as the services are set up differently, so there may not be like for like, and there may be waiting lists .. not saying that makes it right, just more understandable.

But when you just have a birthday which means you are now 18 and not 17..... and they've known it was coming for at least 18 years as DD was born in county and diagnosed at birth 4 years (since Transition plan was started at 14), it is hard to make an excuse for the evasion and buck passing that goes on and leaves you without vital supplies, equipment and services.

I'm VERY cynical about the whole SS malarkey full stop. Seems the resources are there to bully and harrass parents who are trying their best, but to protect children at genuine risk of abuse or support those with disabilities - you gotta be having a laugh/sarc

2 years ago I virtually begged for help when DS was in crisis, and was told he didn't meet the criteria for Nada. (I was being investigated under CP for DS at the time).

His consultant has just written a letter repeating my request for a decent stairgate for the now 5 stone sleepwalker to place at the top of my spiral staircase. (There's a couple of other bits of household equipment he is also saying DS needs that I wasn't greedy enough to ask for too) Be interesting to see if his request has any more success than mine did, or if it'll just pave the way for another wave of bullying.

If I start on adult social care after the battles I had in 2012 on my siblings behalf, I'll never shut up - but suffice to say I think the whole system operates under a set of dangerous assumptions and delusions, and that any good that is done is DESPITE, not because of that system iyswim.

Ah SS OT I have had a good experience with but you do have to be refered through a social worker

I am going to put my fingers in my ears about adult services :(