Getting support from social services

[Edenviolet]

Our sw has informed us that we fall into a grey area where neither the cwd team or child in need team will take our case on so she has to close our case as ss cannot offer support.

How do I appeal this and access some help and support for my dcs?

Thanks

However I and many others on here are 'customers' of SS and have knowledge of the system you claim to know so well.

It may surprise you to know that I am also a customer of the service as well. You may find me condesending, but I happen to find you pretty rude tbh. You don't seem to listen, and you are going out of your way to insinuate what I am saying is incorrect. Obviously you are determined to be right, but unless you have ever tried this process, then you are not in a position to comment as to whether it works or not.

As I stated earlier Brian, I am not determined to be right, quite the opposite I have stated its in my experience and sharing options. You on the other hand have taken exception to everything I have written and told me I am wrong. I don't think I have been rude to you at all, again quite the opposite and it is you who are being rude.

By Law not individual teams, the op is entitled to an assessment, and I will state again, there is no grey area as to whether she is entitled to an assessment. She is, IF she requests one. its the Law.

What has happened to the OP is she has been told she falls into a 'grey area' without assessment. IF she requests an assessment, they are acting unlawfully if they refuse to assess. IF she doesn't request an assessment, they are not and she will continue to be pushed from pillar to post.

Personally I would request an assessment first, then complain that they are acting unlawfully, if/when they refuse without good reason.

However, you seem to have taken great exception to this being an option. The OP seems to have disappeared from the thread (and I don't blame her!) so any further discussion is futile.

Now you're deliberately misreading what I have said. I didn't say there was a grey area in terms of entitlement to assessment. I said there was a grey area in the boundaries of the eligibility criteria. But then, your response and word twisting to further your debate doesn't surprise in the slightest, given your attitude here.

I don't take great exception to asking for an assessment as an option. Particularly as it is the route most people using ssd take on a daily basis. I am merely pointing out that if someone finds themselves in a position as the op as described, then they are likely to get a better outcome from the process I have described.

And yes the op left a long time ago. But it hasn't stopped you continuing to comment, insinuate I am wrong, misread deliberately what I have said and generally be rude. But, as lots of people use mn for advise and support, I am trying to explain what I mean carefully. Clearly it will never benefit you but it may help someone in the future who may google and come across this thread.

And on that note I'm going to leave you to it. I know you like to have the last word, so theres a nice big space down there v v v for you to do so.

Best wishes.

Right,

Brian knows lots about what works best in his/her LA (and perhaps in others s/he has worked in)

Claw knows a huge amount about what works in hers (and if I remember rightly she's lived in a few places)

So, OP, the options they've suggested are
-to get better informed about the law and internal policies, then request again with all i's dotted, all t's crossed. And complain or seek judicial review if that doesn't work
Or
-to escalate your original request within the department so a senior manager forces a team to assess. By complaining and/ or involving the MP

I live on the border of two areas. I've never seen either approach work. Pointing out all the safeguarding concerns, in writing, tends to bear most fruit here

Postcode lottery doesn't even begin to describe SS. Lottery implies an element of statistical fairness, and postcode implies that practices are reasonably standard within an area. Russian roulette might be a better analogy, but with a one in six chance of 'getting assessed' replacing the bullet.

I find that people who work for as clearly feel they are right, based on their own la purely. Brian seems to have to attitude that he knows it all because he works for an la.

Whereas claw has had lots of personal experience in various la's. Obviously someone who works for the service and who gets to use the service is a very lucky customer. However, just because you have had a good experience doesn't mean that's how it works for everyone.

Op, I would certainly use your time by asking for assessment of needs, under the appropriate act. If you still feel aggrieved then there's no harm in complaining at the same time - I'm doing that very thing presently.

I've worked for 5 separate LA's sweetamum. Not the whole country certainly, but its not based on the experience of one LA only. And I don't use the same service that I work for.

The MP approach only works if the MP gives a monkeys - not all do. Just sayin'.

Well yes, that helps bochead. Although pretending to give a monkeys is generally just as good. They only need to do the one letter usually.

In my experience if you are unlucky enough to get the 'wrong' team, they can make a right pigs ear of it. CP for example seem to have very limited knowledge of SN or disabilities, whereas i have heard very good reports about the disability team.

Just dealing with the appropriate team and/or a social worker who has experience of disabilities can make the world of difference.

Well yes, I would certainly agree with those points Claw. Ssd is a difficult and frustrating organization to negotiate your way through. Its just as bad on the inside as it is from the outside.

[faints] you agreed with me on something Brian!

I love a happy ending, glad we have kissed and made up

I would like to see it be less difficult and frustrating, particularly as it involves vulnerable people. It would be made far easier, if SS were more transparent about their policies and procedures.

I would like them to be more transparent too. The policies and procedures are forever changing which doesn't help. The only thing that remains constant is change. Its a difficult grinding organization thats for sure, and sadly its not getting any better. When people have to start using the services, they have to fight, all the way. Even when their children are grown up. It doesn't stop. And it really shouldn't be like that. But with funding cuts and workers with so many cases that it is dangerous, its hard to see any positive changes happening, well, ever really. Which is very sad.

Well my son was a 'child in need' the only problem was he was a child in need of nothing, no services. zilch, nothing! The most ridiculous waste of time and money ever. That time and money could have been much better spent elsewhere. I didn't even request an assessment!

That sounds very confusing. So your ds got an assessment, but you didn't even want one?

He didn't even have an assessment! Yet he was made subject to a 'child in need' plan, yet the plan included no services!

No I didn't want one, in fact I had to complain several times to get the case closed.

That sounds rather frustrating to say the least.

I guess in that position, a complaint would have helped, but it was also imperative that you knew your rights too.

Sometimes SS allow themselves to be used by other depts of LA, namely education to bully parents Brian. You complain about education and education get SS onto you, kinda like 'i will get my big brother on you'. I wont bore you with all the details, but it seems to be getting more common and a total waste of resources.

Disclaimer, that isn't to say that other depts of SS don't do a really good job. As I said I have heard good things about disability team.

I think it doesn't hurt any parent to know their rights. In the SN world knowing your legal rights, is the only way you can fight.

Well seems the OP may have the perfect solution!

As sweet suggested write requesting assessment and quoting the Law, while complaining at the same time. Add Maria's pointing out all safeguarding issues and copy in MP as suggest by you and others!

Theres no harm in throwing everything at it. But it helps for people to understand their rights. And yes, I do know that in some cases re education, that is true. Mostly they are just fine, (really supportive in fact), but I can certainly think of a few occasions where I have come to blows on a professional level with a few key people in education, when I have disagreed with their assessment of the situation. This is only two or three though over 20 odd years. But yes, unlucky if you're caught up in that.