Refusal of Direct Payments from SS

[sweetteamum]

We've recently been declined any direct payments for our dc. 1 with asd at a specific school and 1 with ADHD and PDA who is in his last year of juniors.

Her basic reasoning was because she thinks it will hold our children back. She also wants us to try local clubs, even though they've not worked previously. She's also said I should take a friend with the children to any activities they go to - that is just not possible. Surely that wasn't a serious thought.

Will I get a report/refusal in writing now, does anybody know?

Contact a Family have been previously very good with this. Perhaps give them a call.

I found their education advice not so on the ball, but the SS stuff was good.

Thanks starlight, I'll give them a call. I'd not even thought about them.

ParentPartnership? The reasons for NOT giving seem rather odd to me. You need to lay it on, really thick as I think SS first reaction is often a "no", especially when there's no possibility of harm/neglect to a child. Sorry, but this is MY experience.

My ds was assessed and refused twice by SS. The report (they'll send one to you, outlining their assessment and recommendations) we had went on and on about ds being a much loved, cared for child (he was 10) and came from a loving and well equipped home with appropriate toys etc. I pointed out to them that they missed the point. He was completely unable to form peer relationships, sat in the wardrobe apologising to people/cats/dogs/inanimate objects for hours on end, was isolated and lonely and high functioning enough to know he was different and missing out. I told SS straight that we needed to be able to access payments in order to get a PA who would work one-to-one with him....maybe involve ds in a hobby or group otherwise, he would miss a huge learning opportunity (with other kids) and go on to be an isolated and lonely teenager/young man/adult. I seem to remember finishing with the sentence "if I wasn't looking after ds and was abusing him in some way or neglecting him, perhaps we'd qualify for help then (!) ?" The following afternoon, SS phoned, to say that we had been awarded the direct payments.

Ds is now 13. He still has no friends but, a lovely chap takes him out bowling or to the cinema every week and a young woman is teaching him some life skills "out and about" which means, he doesn't have to be joined at the hip with his old mum all the time.

Keep trying. Be insistent. It's often a fight to get the help you need.

Good luck.