OK so the good news is ds1 has got a summer playscheme

[getbackinyouryurtjimjams]

At a local sld school- takes six or eight (can't remember) children a day - all with 1:1. 2 days a week. He loves it.

But

They're cutting my direct payments to cover it!

Bloody hell! Can you access the playscheme and organise a place direct yourself or do you HAVE to go through Soc Svs? We've used lots of playschemes independently which they could pay for (possibly using our DPs) but I always do it direct. There are one or two that have to be accessed via Soc Svs and/or Play Svs. Mind you, now that DS is not at home all the time, this summer they are only giving me DPs when he doesn't have a playscheme so I should ask them to pay for the days he does have playscheme now I come to think of it.....

Have to go via SS panel....

Annoyingly about 18 months ago they offered to up my hours -with a change in circumstances. I said not to worry as I had a backlog but once that was used up I'd come back to them. Fine they said. So I did- and they denied the first conversation taking place. Gits.

Trusting SS to deliver on verbal commitments is not a good strategy.

Phones bad, letters good

Good news on finding a twice weekly holiday scheme - not always easy to achieve!

Oh I know I've learned. And this acceptance (of swapping dp's for hours will be followed up with a letter stating that I still have concerns that I will run out of hours as I did last summer blah blah).

Holiday scheme is brand new. There's been nothing for the severely/profoundly disabled the whole time I've lived here (5 years)- they'd shut everything - I think it's going to be expanded into respite as well (currently non existent in the city- kids have to go to the next council) - which is another reason to get in there. It is well run and organised as well.

Congrats on getting the 2 days!

We have our first meeting with DS1's social worker on Thursday, so I am hoping I can post a similar good news thread soon, although I won't be holding my breath

I don't get why your direct payments have been cut. ss pay half dd's playscheme. it doesn't affect our respite as it comes out of another budget.

Agree wutg 2shoes about how the playschemes are funded, here DPs from Soc Svs are quite different to access to schemes/centres run by Play Service and do not overlap. With independent playschemes I could ask Soc Svs to fund them and they might suggest using my DPs. But surely you will need the DPs for the time he is NOT at the playscheme? Just as you need them for the time he is not at school during term time?

The playscheme is run by and funded by SS. And they act as the decision makers and decide who is going there.

It will leave me short this summer- but I was short last summer as well. I am going to write and say that, but I doubt it will get me anywhere.

I get more dp's during school hols - this will leave me with the same number of hours as I get during school term time. But only 2 days in playscheme. Hmmm that's a good point.

I don't know how they'll administer it anyway- they give me different hours for term and holidays but pay me a flat rate all year- so I have already had a bunch of the summer hours in advance.

Oh I can feel a letter coming on.

Worth writing anyway, just to have it all on record, even if they don't change their plans. Good luck! If you've had some in advance though might be worth keeping schtum depending on how much it is.

Yes, true. I thought by putting it in writing it's there ready for the next annual review as well. The playscheme does suit me better than dp's especially as my 2 'girls' have both just moved to London so I would have to re-hire.

Is the playscheme free?

I must admit I dont use the SS run playscheme at all because they call it 'repite' and yet you have to (a) pay for it yourself, even though its 'funded' and (b) I have to provide transport myself (both schemes are over half an hour away)

I apply for an independant run playscheme which I pay £10 a day for (same price as SS one) which is local to me. Its only for one week of the holidays but it dopesnt affect any other respite.

Can you write a letter to SS explaining you will have to use direct payments for drop off and pick up times because of your other two children? Because that could take at least an hour and a half, couldnt it? and thats every day

he he, I like it! I will indeed point that out!

Oh well good job I checked. It seems that 2 days a week are not guaranteed, some sessions may be at the weekend (although they'll try to give me weekdays) and the playscheme may have to close for building work for some of the holiday.

Seems that SS are being a little premature in taking away 12 hours of dps . Will now rewrite complaint letter of this morning.

Lady who runs the playscheme is lovely though.