My trust in professionals and the 'system' is disappearing fast

[claw2]

Please tell me some stories of competent professionals you have countered?

From a visit to my GP, after waiting an hour for our appointment, where I asked that ds be prescribed 'sugar free iron medicine' and i double checked it was sugar free and also some vitamins to be the told the iron medication contains vitamins as well. I also double checked this with him too. To be handed syrup iron medication containing not a trace of vitamins in the chemist.

To SALT and school saying they have provided a service to ds, when I know for a fact they haven't and when asked repeatedly for copies and evidence, been ignored.

To Social Services, over riding medical professionals and doing what the hell they want. Again, any formal complaints totally ignored.

Previously OT, no assessments, no therapy, no reports. Who then try to write a report a year later just so they can discharge.

Previous Paed's, being pushed from pillar to post, never seeing the same one twice.

Continence assessments, attending appointment, after appointment providing info and that's it, doing exactly the same thing in 6 months time.

Im just sitting here thinking what a total waste of money and everyones time. Moan over with!

A competent professional is one who
a) knows their limitations
b) does their best, limited by system / resources / excessive workload
c) is truthful about a) and b)

So, a practice nurse who is not particularly good at smear tests could say
a) I've done the course, and am ok at straightforward smears
b) the GP / family planning / whoever are really excellent at them, but to book, it'll most likely take you three weeks and use up £10 of phone credit
c) what d'you want to do?

I'd opt for convenience, knowing I've never had problems. Someone else with a series of previous nightmare smear tests would choose the 'try for the dr' option. Outcome: happy patient, happy nurse, happy doctor.

Pah! I lost trust years ago.

Had meeting with youngest DS teacher/senco/head. I have never wanted to punch a senco so much constantly harping on about we don't have resources, its only one area my son is delayed ( he only had 2 main areas of need but they are getting worse ) there is a boy with more severe needs ( so my son can continue to go to pot!) she was going out her way to not provide my son With any help dispite him getting additional funding (£900) the cheeky gits then said " they could spend the cash ( that is attatched for my son by the way) any way they saw fit" so here I go again with another battle for my other son...it's madness.

I have lost all respect for teachers, EPs and even worse SALTs.

Mumus, your a.) b.) and c.) are spot on.
I've really borne those in mind since hearing about them on MN.
Many people are not brave enough to be this honest.
They forget that people would rather that others were straight with them, even if they don't like what is being said.

I have seen so many professionals keep up pretence/façade of doing something useful all the while knowing it is total bolleaux (to use an MN favourite).

As total aside, the new MN even does a cedilla for you automatically!
façade

Blimey!

café
Also accents.

It may even clean the house for me next.

Lol @ moondog..

Sorry Moondog had to dash to pick ds up from school!

What I don't understand, is why LA/NHS SALT who is used for the purpose of SA cannot quantify and specify. Sorry im using SALT as an example here, as I know its your line of expertise, but you are obviously not held accountable for every SALT!

NHS/LA SALT (just some examples of the provision provided in report
'a level of one to one support in the classroom'

'direct teaching of vocab where appropriate'
'small group work for social interaction, social communication and social understanding.
'continued access to SALT service'

Private SALT
'a high level of one to one support in the classroom to address language processing, receptive and expressive language difficulties and promote social interaction'

'A block of speech and language therapy delivered by a SALT and observed by ds's learning support assistant. This should run for 6 weeks for a minimum of 30 minutes per session'

'a SALT programme designed and monitored by a SALT on a half termly basis to be delivered by LSA for a minimum of 3 times a week'

'social communication and interaction skills in small group of no more than 4 pupils on a weekly basis following a social communication programme designed and monitored by SALT on half termly basis'

'Targets for receptive, expressive and social communication incorporated in IEP'

SALT to present at IEP reviews etc, etc, etc.

I had to pay £1,500 for a private SALT to quantified and specify, exactly what NHS/LA SALT had recommended in the first place. Why couldn't NHS SALT have just done that in the first place?

I am all for parents working with professionals and helping and working with their own children too. That £1,500 could have been much better spent on helping ds. Just seems like a total waste of money and time.

I'm as confused and bothered by this as you.
I personally don't find it difficult to specify and quantify.
In fact, I couldn't give help that wasn't this.
Totally against my nature and training.

It's not at all confusing. LAs routinely tell their block contracted services and EP service not to quantify/specify.

Why?

Because it is hard to legally enforceable provision if it is vague.

Thanks Moondog for answering my questions. Maybe I have just been unlucky, maybe the area I live in is exceptionally bad.

Even with both set of recommendations from 2 SALTS, ds didn't get any SALT input, so it was all a bit pointless regardless of whether it was quantified or specified anyhow!