Social services assessment advice needed

[Graciefer]

Yesterday I had the specialist health visitor and family support worker here to do some work with DS2.

Whilst they were here, I mentioned the summer holidays and that I would like to get DS1 (who is 5 and severly autistic) into a playscheme for a couple days over the summer holidays, but had been told that he would need his own worker and we would have to seek the funding for this.

The specialist hv said that they were trying to bring this centre in question back on track (not sure what she meant by this) and that she could refer us to social services if we liked, to see if they could fund this.

We said that would be great and thought it would be months before we heard anything.

However today I had a call from a lady from social services (a reply in a day, you could of knocked me over with a feather), saying that they had received a referral from the specialist hv and that they would like to come on Monday morning, along with someone from the child disability team to do a dual assessment.

Now we have not had any dealings with social services before and I am now feeling a little apprehensive about it.

So I wondered if there should be anything I should be asking for, pointing out, definately not saying etc. Any advice would be gratefully received as I am not even sure what a dual assessment entails.

We have two children, DS1 who is 5 years old (severly autistic, non-verbal) and attends a SLD/PMLD school and DS2 who is 7 months old and has Downs Syndrome and bi-lateral talipes.

I am a sahm and DH is also home after giving up work to help with caring when DS1 was diagnosed (he is on a long term sabbatical according to him, lol).

Sorry for the long post, but I am quite worried now, not sure why but I am feeling paranoid about saying the wrong thing.

Thanks for any help you can give me.

When we had a dual assessment, they meant by the disability team and the childrens team- the disability team turned us down but we were offfered (highly unsuitable)s ervices by the chidrens team fior ds1- however I would think you will qualify far mroee asily than us, as they wouldn't take ds3 due to lack of dx.

It was easy enough- just a chat and a few questions ona form.

Thanks for that Peachy, although I am still a bit confused at what they will be assessing, I have heard people talk about carers assessment and something else before.

Any idea on what sorts of questions? Are they mostly around behaviour etc?

Thanks again, I do appreciate the help.

So you have an actual social worker coming if you do- they are rare as hen's teeth round here

How are they funding the playscheme

If through PICS then it has to be a mainstream playscheme.

Did the place 'they are trying to bring back on track' begin with a B? Can tell you more about that offline- but have heard enough that I've always felt it wouldn't be suitable for ds1. But I haven't looked.

DS1 has just been offered a couple of days over Easter at a playscheme the other SLD school (D). Apparently there are 5 children to 5 workers. Perfect.

The other thing to ask about is direct payments. (you can have combination of playscheme and dps). DP's allow you to employ someone. I use them to pay for a childminder and for people to come in and be another pair of hands.

It helps if they see challenging behaviours.

Thanks for that Yurt, I was hoping you would see my thread.

Yes it is the 'B' place, I wasn't sure if it would be suitable for DS1 as their website mentions not be able to take children with challenging behaviours and I am also a bit paranoid about him doing a runner (from anywhere tbh).

However I am desperate for him to have something to do in the holidays, last summer was unbearable, we took him to the donkey place once a week, but that really wasn't enough.

Now that he is a year older (and bigger!), I think keeping him coop'ed up here all summer will be impossible.

The lack of suitable alternative is truely frustrating.

I was wondering about asking about Dp's, but really wasn't sure how we would spend them and if we could keep up with the admin side of them.

I guess I will take a suck it and see attitude to Monday's meeting and make sure me and DH are singing from the same hymn sheet.

Oh, would love to here more about the 'B' place, so I have it straight in my mind for Monday.

Thanks again!

Main problem with "B" is (from what I hear) it's too easy to get out. That's why I've always said it was unsuitable for ds1. I've heard it's quite chaotic and over the years have just heard grumbles and moans about it and I'm just not convinced it would be safe. People arriving to pick their child up and no-one knowing where they were (in the toilet- alone). I just felt I couldn't risk it.

I had quite long chat to the person running the "D" playscheme this week- and it sounds great tbh. Small group. I know they were advertising for staff at MF (it;s a new playscheme I think). If he settles in there's the chance of future overnight respite there. It sounds safe-high fencing, access via a keypad and I know that on one of the days at least there's another boy from his class and I think one from the class above- ie they're used to challenging behaviours such as those our boys demonstrate Very detailed questionnaire asking the right questions!

Thats exactly what I would be worried about, for DS1 to be safe, someone needs to be at his side (or chasing behind him to be precise) 100% of the time.

I think I will not commit to anything and ask to visit first.

The playscheme at 'D' sounds great, I did some work there when I left school many moons ago and we visited there and 'MF' when deciding which school DS1 would go. I certainly wouldnt worry about escaping from there.

Which leads me to the million dollar question, how did you get an offer for the playscheme? Is it based on age or some other criteria?

Sorry for all the questions, but really trying hard to be more prepared for this summer holidays whilst completely ignoring the 2 weeks of chaos of Easter holidays from Monday, lol.

I didn't even know that Ds1 had been put forwards. I recently had my annual review with SS (a SW assistant- initials with DW- she does a lot these days - she does kind of 'get it' tbh and is sympathetic- tell her you know me if it is her ) Anyway during the annual review I said that I wanted somewhere for ds1 to go to but that I didn't trust B. She suggested D and said she would look into putting his name down for it. I didn't know anything about it though- until I got the thing through the door.

The woman I spoke to who runs it told me if I liked it it was important to feed that back to SS (I presume their funding is always threatened). They used to run one at MF (before ds1 went there- one of my dp's helpers volunteered there years ago) but it lost its funding.

You could ring the person who runs it directly to find out more - but I'd ask next week in the first instance.

Thanks for that, I will most definately be asking about it on Monday with both fingers crossed that they are aware of it.

If not I will do as you suggest and call them directly, if you wouldn't mind passing me the details should it be needed.

I am also considering the RDA in Bittaford, it has been highly recommended to DH by a girl who attends the PHAB group that he volunteers at, so will also mention that and try to get a visit there also.

Thanks for your help again, you are a life saver!

Will email you the number now...

Please Please don't tidy up before they arrive, not sure how it differs from area to area but for a friend (her ds has downs syndrome)they have provided a cleaner.
This is in addition to her direct payments.
Her house isn't unusually dirty, just the normal family mess etc,

Thanks for the advice mymatemax, however DH (who is quite AS traity himself iyswim) would end up locking himself in the shed.

I know that if we ever had a cleaner he would insist on us cleaning before they arrived, not that he has a particular thing for hygiene, just people, lol.

oh occurred to me to say they might offer you PICS. Be careful with PICS. The idea is the child attends a mainstream playscheme with support paid for by PICS. This could be someone you line up or someone they provide (who won't necessarily be experienced). IME they always offer PICS as this is where the money has been put, so its one of the few things they have to offer - but mainstream playschemes are usually not suitable for our children.

You could ask about PICS money supporting ds1 at B but I doubt they'd allow it as PICS is for inclusion (so never mind if the most disabled/challenging can't access anything as they can't access ms even with support and funding has been withdrawn from special schemes in favour of ms ones)

I will definately mention it.

I had a coffee morning within DS1's class today (really great idea, hope they repeat it) and whilst there I talked to girl who does most of his 1-1 work.

She was telling me how they don't get paid during the holidays and how her and a few others that have worked with DS1 are always looking for an extra few hours, so perhaps if we do get something (PICS, DP's, whatever) I now have a better idea of how we could use it.

However, not going to jump the gun as SS may be more than useless when I meet them on Monday, if the experiences I have heard from others is anything to fo by.

Thanks everyone for the support [smile}

fo go

Oh and I am sure I will have enough mess to convince them I am about as far from wonder women as possible, as myself, DH and DS2 are still sleeping in the dining room/play room, 6 months on after bedroom has been replastered, lol.

Takes me back to my bedsit days when I first moved in with DH

We have however cleared 3rd & 4th bedroom of the boxes that were from floor to ceiling since we moved into this house 4 years ago in the last few weeks, so I expect we will be back in our bedroom sometime in 2012 [wink}

Oh and of course we have barrel bolts on every single door in the house, apparently they are a social services 'red flag', so I think I may be percieved more vicky pollard than Anthea Turner, heheh.

oooh that's useful for me to know Graciefer- I need to recruit some more pairs of hands for the summer.....

Ha! Look out for the vaccinations questions as well Graciefer - another red flag. I just say that ds1 ihas had his (and don't mention the other 2/lack of boosters..... )

Dont worry about your house, mine looks like a student let (except the front room which is 'done'0. Kitchen was put in in 1980 . Wallpaper half stripped off walls. They've always been fine about it.

lack of boosters for ds1 that is - just mention it in case the qeustion surprises you (they might miss it out but it's on the form).

Thanks for the tip, we did actually get a phone call from the GP's receptionist yesterday to say they seemed to have overlooked DS1's pre-school booster and when would we like to book it in.

So I would have probably put my foot in it and told SS he isn't having the booster as it is fresh in my mind.

They may not ask you-but it's a standard part of the questionnaire, just don't say anything!

We have barrel bolts on the kitchen, bathroom and some bedroom doors

Well 3 months on from the original dual assessment (the report of which recommended the childrens disability team take on DS1 and that we definately needed some help/respite) we finally got to meet DS1's named social worker today.

Only to be told (as very much suspected), that we (haha) have left it too late to get a place at the summer playscheme that we wanted (for wanted read: only suitable one in the city). Surprise, surprise!

Everything else mentioned was unsuitable (inclusion my arse), so told the SW that although it is not ideal, the only option left open to us would be direct payments.

However, apparently the funding panel meets on the 15th of July, so we have to try to get a core assessment done by then . Again this is because we have left it too late.

How I have to bite my tongue, how can they justify a 3 month wait from being accepted on the childrens disability team to allocating a SW and then say we have left things too late??

Is it just me, or does anyone else get the feeling SW's are nothing more than salesmen/women, whos whole objective is to sell you what their manager wants rid of mostly?

We are meeting next week to try to get the paperwork for the core assessment done in time, although it looks like it is going to be another nightmare summer.

I am not sure how we will cope tbh as DS1 was home from school ill last week and his behaviour got so bad in 1 week at home it was unbearable, on the day he went back to school his escort had to get his teacher and nursery nurse to help get him to class as he threw himself to the ground in the hallway, headbutting the floor and refusing to move and that was after only 1 week of boredom and frustration.

Also it means poor old DS2 will spend most of his time in his highchair when he should be on the floor trying to catch up on his already delayed crawling/sitting etc because of his Downs Syndrome and his talipes treatment. Unfortunately it is just not safe for DS2 to be on the floor when DS1 is at home and even his play pen isn't safe as DS1 vaults that and lands on top of him.

Not sure if I am more or right now.

Well perhaps I spoke too soon and SS can move quickly when they want to.

I just had a call from the SW (less than an hour after she has left the house), to be told that we won't have to do the core assessment straight away and that they would provide 16 hours a week DP's for the school holidays and to open a bank account asap.

Still not the result I wanted, but much better than nothing.

Out of interest, how many hours DP's do everyone else get over the summer holidays?