*CROSSROADS - HOW COULD THEY?*

[ManxMum]

We have had our beloved carer from crossroads for 15 months.

We lover her. Our son loves her.

Her hours were reduced from 37 to just 7 by crossroads three months ago and consequently she has had to obtain another full time job. She informed crossroads that she wanted to keep on with the 7 hours and the 2 clients were in favour of this.

They made her resign!!!

We have only been officially informed today, her last day, that she is leaving and her replacement will be with us next week. Her replacement is 18 years old!! No offence to the girl, but I have 2 DS's older than her.

Our DS is autistic and really doesn't need this happening. She is more than just a carer, she is a friend.

I thought Crossroads was there to 'care for carers'?

Any ideas anyone? Please!!

HIYA MAXIMUM,
MY DAUGHTER IS 18 AND SHE TOO HAS HAD A CARER FROM XROADS FOR ABOUT 10MNTHS,
CARER AND MY GIRL GET ON BRILLIANTLY AND ITS A GOOD LINK.
CARER IS SICK TO DEATH OF XROADS MESSING HER ABOUT, SHE VISITS A LAD IN THE MORNS AND HAS TOLD XROADS SHE CANT CONTINUE LINK BECAUSE HER EYES COME UP RED/SORE ETC.. AFTER THE VISIT OBV SHES ALLERGIC TO SOMETHING BUT XROADS STILL HAV'NT SORTED PROB, THERE'S BEEN OTHER PROBS WITH COMMUNICATIONS IN REGARDS XROADS ALSO.
XROADS ONLY ACT AS AN AGENT FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND LOCAL AUTHORITY SO YOU COULD GO ON TO DIRECT PAYMENTS IF YOUR CARER LEAVES XROADS [YOU EMPLOY THEM PRIVATLY] SO IF YOUR A LONE PARENT SOCIAL SERVICES WOULD PAY OR IF YOU'RE NOT YOU WOULD PAY PRIVATLY.
XROADS ASK LOCAL AUTHORITY FOR £11 AN HOUR FOR CARER BUT YOUR CARER ONLY GETS ABOUT £6 OF THIS.SO IF YOU ENTER INTO A PRIVATE AGREEMENT WITH YOUR CARER THAT WOULD MEAN YOU DONT LOSE THEM. IF YOUR ONLY GOING TO GET 7 HOURS YOU WOULD'NT PAY TAX N N.I. ON THIS SO NO LENGHTHY FORMS FOR YOU!.
I WOULD ALSO GET IN TOUCH WILL YOUR LOCAL CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES TEAM TO DISPUTE THE DROP IN HOURS FOR YOUR SON.
GOOD LUCK N HOPE THIS HELPS.
XJUNE

PPS SORRY FORGOT TO ADD THAT YOU KNOW YOUR SON BEST SOOO YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT WHOEVER XCROADS GIVES YOU IF THEY ARE A GOOD ORGANISATION THEY WILL FIND THE 'RIGHT' CARER FOR YOU AND YOUR SON.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED TO KNOW WHICH XROADS YOU ARE REFFERING TO [WHICH AREA ETC] MAYBE IF YOU NAME AND SHAME THEM THEN THEY MAY STOP SACKING CARERS WHO ARE GOOD COMMITED CARERS AS OPPOSED TO THE ONES WHO DO IT FOR REASONS OTHER THAN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD/CARED FOR PERSON.
LET ME KNOW HPOW IT GOES.
THANX.
J

Thank you Salsmum for your advice.

Spent last two days phoning social service and crossroads, even speaking to crossroads chairman who couldn't help and have made the decision to reject crossroads care at home scheme and stick with just the holiday scheme and my ds does get one day at our local resource centre a week.

Social services have come up with a 'link care' scheme offer where we employ a carer for a specific number of hours per month and they will pay them direct, so there is hope there!

We don't have the same options here as in the UK, as we live in the Isle of Man, but I will be writing to crossroads (UK) to complain about the lack of communication and obstruction that I have had from their local department.

Thanks again!!

maxmum
tell social services that you have your carer who your child is happy with and you dont want a new carer coming in from any other organisation.
It would be in your childs BEST INTERESTS to have the routine and stability of a carer they know n trust. tell that to soc servs.
stick to your guns girl!
advice welcome good luck.
jx