So they're all off for xmas and meanwhile my DC carries on suffering.

[LetZygonsbeZygons]

yes, council services. social services/CAMHS/etc etc etc. and 'emergency' numbers they tell you to 'hang in there' till 2nd Jan.

yes, everyone there deserves time off for hols but those of us 24/7 caring for sn DCs NEVER get a minute off.

(ive even been staring at a bottle of pills today, im at the end of my tether. )

not DCS fault at all, she cant help it, her meltdowns/anxieties/cant sleep in her room as the walls are dripping with moisture and council repairs are shut over xmas, so out of her normality and in my room with me where in her frustration sheds punching and kicking me.

even took her to A & E in desperation (and Im disabled and find it difficult to get out) only to sit there for 2 hours while drunk people were treated for being drunk and we had to leave in the end as DC was having kittens waiting there with all the noise and STILL no one would see her, even though they could see she was having a fit.

and all the xmas kuffufle and being out of routine and NO ONE to help at all.

just had to unburden. DCs worked herself into a trance and is sitting on couch behind me staring into space.

Could you sleep in her room or the lounge and let her have your bed tonight if she's not used to sharing?

Really sorry your going through a rough patch. Isn't it typical that people who get in that state get seen and looked after more so than our children. I rely hope you can sort something out soon.

her room is the one that's dripping, literally waterfall, and were both asthmatic and so cant go near the room (had to move furniture away from walls) and ive even got towels lapping up the moisture.

she doesn't mind sharing shed rather be with me there than her in my bed and me downstairs (and I need to be near her for her nightime ''problems'').

im just peed off that the so called services can go off and not have people to cover,and that they get time off (and I know many are overstretched/underpaid and need to refresh) and we don't? any of us on this site really?

everything stops for xmas but not for our families.

LetZ the thing is, they can't go off and not have people to cover. Get on to your council website and have a look for the emergency duty officer number or something like that. I'll happily look too if you tell me what council you are.

It sounds like you're in council accommodation and your DD would be considered a vulnerable person. They cannot leave her room in the state it's in.

Practicalities first -

1. Is there a paediatric A&E you can get to with her in future emergencies (sorry, I don't know how old she is). If you can, you'll be away from the drunks and are likely to be seen quicker.

1. Is the water penetrating, or is it condensation? Any chance of borrowing a dehumidifier to prevent further problems, if you're unable to ventilate the room for any reason?

These things aside, if you're finding yourself staring at those pills, then please get help for yourself. Call out of hours and make a big fuss. They don't stop for Christmas.

BLue youll see in my op I DID call emergency services, see above their answer.

Our no thjere isn't, Ive been on council website, im just drafting up a letter of complaint to LL and going to send copy to my social worker and GP. DCs 12 btw.

I do open window during day (and its bloody freezing!)

in all our probs and pain Ive NEVER looked at a bottle of pills, and even if I wanted to I cant as she has no one else in the world for her. the services know that and so I don't get taken seriously.

I promise you, there is someone on duty in your council for emergencies.

Ill just have to keep trying (like Ive got time for THAT with a 24/7 care job!)

thanks for replies.

Is it council, private landlord or housing association?

Hugs. Is there anyone in the neighbourhood who can assist?

Hi Contact your GP out of hours service who may then contact CAMHS for you, I now you are banging your head against a brick wall at the moment but it may help

Do you usually have respite for your daughter that isn't available over christmas?
Are the council aware of the issues with moisture? I presume this hasn't just happened in the last few days?
What reason did you give for attending AandE ? A duty social worker should have been available if needed.
Sorry if I sound unsympathetic, I am not, I feel sorry for you.I just wondered why everything suddenly seems to be getting you down over christmas as they seem to be ongoing problems and not a sudden change of circumstance.

What were you wanting A&E to do?

There will be an out of hours social worker available via the council / social services phone number if you feel you can't cope.

Emergency duty social work team. They have to have one. It's statutory. Over-stretched and not always very good, but it has to exist.

Google "emergency duty social work safeguarding & your area name"
The link will look something like this one

Could the leak be bad enough to qualify as a mini-flood? If so, maybe the emergency repeat contractor can do something like this

wow! will answer-
council house.
NEVER had any respite in 12 years.
Ive been banging on to council for 4 months now about the damp etc but they wont send anyone.
DC gets into such states with meldowns she ends up catatonic/unable to breathe etc hence A & E. (this is a regular occurance, but atm the A&E is mainly full of drunks, as is the case most weekends)
we are discriminated against for a few reasons.(of which have been proven time and again) ends up with me being paranoid as to that's why we are not helped.
I have said to emergency lot its like a waterfall atm since the bad weather last week but we are never ever a priority.

Im still trying.
Thank you

Are you in or near London?

near London.

A friend keeps telling me to move (Im on houseswap council thing) up North as they get more help there!

I'm sure if you were at a+e with someone who was genuinely unable to breath they would be a priority over a drunk and if that really was the case shouldn't you have called an ambulance anyway?
How are things today?
Have you any plans to speak to someone tomorrow. Can your social worker not do anything to help move things on regarding the damp if its contributing to ill health.
Is there a reason why you don't have any respite care? Is this your choice or lack of available services in your area.

Where we live its overpopulated (and still more and more people coming in) and its also (I don't want to say, really, the discrimination we get has something to do with this).

respite- DC has very very very complicated needs and requirements and the couple or so respite carers that tried in the past have not been ablw to meet those needs-which includes very intimate needs so only I can meet those-and there is no 'box' anyone can put her in so she ends up 'out of the window' and not bothered with.

Ive been fighting 12 years literally for adequate help but there doesn't seem to be the resources /staff/funding for her.

sometimes I just want to tell them all to feck off and just get on with it myself which is basically what I do anyway.

sorry, have to go now, I need to see to her!

OP, please take this the right way

I find it very difficult to believe that you've spoken to the emergency social care team and have told them that you have a waterfall of water pouring down the bedroom wall of a vulnerable child with disabilities, who is affected by this to the extent that she is unable to breathe properly, and they have done nothing (and this being a council owned-property which is presumably suffering extensive water damage).

I'm not disbelieving you, I'm just wondering if you're explaining all this to them clearly.

The next time your DD is unable to breathe please call 999 and ensure that you explain the situation at home to the paramedics and A+E staff.

You sound exhausted but if the situation is really as you describe it then I'm utterly shocked and you need to start using other professionals to help you make your voice heard to the council.

And your DD falling into a catatonic state and being unable to breathe is a 999 call if ever there was one.

local council have THREE people to cover EVERYTHING over xmas. in an overpopulated place youd think thered be more people to cover??????????????they say they are inundated and so were way down list. way down.

As I said, (and I AM making myself clear, to the point im starting to really rant at them and spouting the equalities act/disacrimination act/going to get legal advice if not helped act).

that's my only other way to go.

Is your accommodation and/or living conditions fit for purpose? How old is you dd?

You say your child has complicated needs.
Has she had an assessment? If she is recognised to have complex needs or meet the criteria for continuing care you are entitled to additional support.
Your social worker should be able to arrange a multi agency meeting to identify the needs of your child and has a duty of care to put support in place.

This sounds simple but doesn't happen overnight and can be a slow process but regular meetings are usually held after initial meeting to monitor progress and keep things moving in a timely fashion.