ok will i die of embarssment/shame/look like the dirtiest mother around

[Fio2]

have social worer coming tommorrow and plumbers have started work on the house today. i have been waiting for both to come for ages, so was reluctant to cancel either. i phoned social worker to ley her know it would be a mess, but I feel like I have done the wrong thing now and should have cancelled

eek

and should I leave all toys out and just have a quick hoover?

How on earth can these "people" call themselves mothers Beccaboo???

I know, sounds a bit grim doesn't it?

ds eats out of the cat food bowl (until I confiscate it).

beccaboo - that reminds me of a story my mum told me - she'd commented to her HV (I think) that one of the neighbours' nappies looked a bit grubby on the line (obviously old style terries) HV replied that the woman didn't wash the nappies - just hung them out!

I always think of that when I'm feeling slatternly.

oh gross at these stories, must say though my son sits in the dog basket and talks to the dogs

Davros, i wont say removations obviously too posh a word for me anyway

just seen this thread - funny how all my favourite and secret short cuts (thow everything under the bed, pour bleach down the sink) seem so universal!

What about buying a bunch of daffs, if you have time before the Social Worker arrives? Good luck, anyway.

oh she was lovely, i dont know why i was bothered

we have been referred for playscheme, Link scheme, volcare and crossroads and OT grant scheme

she has also talked about over night respite etc

she did want to look round my house though as she wanted to see what we were doing to it

Glad it worked out so well Fio and great news on all the schemes

Fio2 glad it's gone well

LOL at all of you worrying about what the sw thinks about the state of your house. My sister is a social worker and she is the untidiest person you could imagine. She lives alone and her house is full of stuff. Far more cluttered than either ours or my other sister (who has a newborn and a dog).

glad it went well though fio.

Good news Fio. How long to wait for link etc? Do you think you prefer some of these options to Direct Payments? At least you don't have to look for someone yourself and do all the effing admin! You should see my bulging bedspreads! I've always found the Social Workers very nice, we never seem to have the same one but I know the boss and a couple of other long term staff which helps if there's a problem or question.

apparently the volcare can start pretty much instantly. Volcare is students apparently studying for OT etc and they can come in up to 3 times a week to help during holidays

The link scheme can be sort of straight away aswell. She said it is be-friending, but apparentily uou can just choose to take the free days out with tranport.

The playscheme she is going to chase up for me, but doesnt think it will be a problem to be organised for the summer. Their scheme runs for three weeks and I can still apply for the private run scheme which runs for 2 weeks Also they do a saturday club which she has been put on the waiting list for

Crossroads there is a waiting list apparently, but she thinks if I put in for the evening service it might be quicker. She said they will come in for 3 hours one evening a week (maybe fortnightly) to babysit

We did discuss direct payments aswell. She said see how this summer goes and if I am getting enough support then everything is fine, but if not we will talk about direct payments, overnight repite etc.

I really feel quite positive about it all now. Social worker was fab aswell, which helped

Blimey, fio, that sounds fantastic!

Is there this sort of help everywhere? Would you have got it if you were still living in Staffs?

Glad to hear SW was fab fio

Just adding a wee story lol. My mate and I had our first babies at the same time. When the GP came round for the first visit her jack russell jumped in the babies carry cot just as GP walked thru the door and baby was still in it! The dog hadn't done that b4 or since lol.

aaaaaaaaargh, meant baby's

ROFL Juniper

I dont know if this help is available everywhere janh, but my friend who lives in the next town gets quite ALOT of support off social services, an amazing amount tbh. She does need it, but I was still shocked it is happening. I am just waiting to see whther all this stuff materialises, but as I only wanted a playscheme place I am really happy Have no idea what Staffs would be like tbh, never had anything to do with social services up there. I know for certain that special schooling was a def no for our dd though and we are lucky that she now goes to a wonderful special school of our choice!

juniper LOL at the jack russel

Sounds good fio. Definitely worth giving it all a chance before bothering about DPs. I'm always bleating on here that what we are ENTITLED to in the UK is wonderful and, imo second to none. But its GETTING it that's sometimes hard and always time consuming...

It sounds great fio - lets hope it all really happens.

That's great fio