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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

If your child has a disability do you have to have a social worker?

48 replies

nappyaddict · 05/02/2009 17:43

That's it really. Haven't got time to go into detail cos got to get back to the hospital but they keep asking me if I want one and I'm not sure if I do. Are they always a positive thing or can they be a hindrance(sp? sorry not got time to look it up) sometimes?

OP posts:

monstermansmum · 05/02/2009 18:04

imo if its offered take it with both hands. Yu dont have to use the SW until you need it but so many parents of sn kids can only get a SW when in crisis (for whatever reason through need eg adaptations or circumstance eg ready to through delightful dd/ds out of the window lol) and by then its ususally either too late or the parent is so stressed out trying to do things themselves without official support that a SW on the scene then IS more of a hindrance than a help! Saying that, I asked for a SW and I got a wet lettuce!!! I have been told "her heart is in the right place" but quite frankly she drives me insane!!!

vjg13 · 05/02/2009 18:40

My daughter had one to do her assessment for direct payments and then for a review of it a couple of years later.

I met one through a charity who we get some support from and found her fantastic to talk to. She has a child with SN and could really understand both sides.

My experiences have been positive so I'd say go for it.

2shoesformyvalentine · 05/02/2009 18:40

we have had one since dd was dx ed, most have been a real help. so don't turn it down,

trace2 · 05/02/2009 18:55

we have one just for then to give us respite

HairyMaclary · 05/02/2009 19:13

Just check that they are a disability children's social worker, or something that has childrens and disability in the title. They are the ones who will help with respite, adaptations etc, they are like gold dust around here so I would say yes, but you do not HAVE to have one. Good luck.

ilovepeppapig · 05/02/2009 19:57

my sister was (until she died) a social worker for children with disabilities and only ever wanted to help families so did her team. i knew them well. you might get one like my sister!
my dd does not have one. she has cf, epilepsy and other issues. i wish i had one for a bit of extra support with help feeling in the DLA form (still haven't done it) or fighting to get her a statement. They are professionals and know the system.

daisy5678 · 05/02/2009 21:01

Go for it. J's is great.

5inthebed · 05/02/2009 21:53

My ds2's doc was when we had our checkup in December that we hadn't been assigned one after we got him dx. He was going to write out and request one be assigned, we are still waiting.

pushkar · 06/02/2009 08:16

you don't need a social worker but if you want direct payments this is set up by a social worker who comes one day and does an assessment

LollipopViolet · 06/02/2009 08:37

Hmm, maybe I'm not a severe enough case but I've never had one to my knowledge.

Phoenix4725 · 06/02/2009 08:46

hmm what is direct payments ?

mm22bys · 06/02/2009 08:50

DS2's assessment included input from a SW, I think to check we are happy with where we are living, to check if we get help / support (probably made it sound more positive than is the reality) etc.

I think she decided we didn't to see her on an ongoing basis.

I am happy with that (at this stage...)

The fewer people involved the better, IMO, he does see just so many people as it is: portage, OT, physio (two), SALT (two), GP, ped, endo, met consultant, opthalmologist, audiologist, ear surgeon, teacher of the hearing impaired, urologist, neurologist, heart specialist....

mm22bys · 06/02/2009 08:51

Gosh that's a lot, no wonder it seems like a full-time job looking after him!

cherrymonster · 06/02/2009 09:18

we dont have one.

coppertop · 06/02/2009 09:51

We don't have one and have never been offered one.

cory · 06/02/2009 11:15

we don't have one but then dd's disability is comparatively mild.

vjg13 · 06/02/2009 11:47

Phoenix, direct payments is an amount of money paid to you (into a bank account that you set up just for this) that you then use to pay for carers and extra support. It is from social services. A SW assesses how much your child requires in hours each week and then it is paid at about £9 per hour.

Phoenix4725 · 06/02/2009 13:42

hmm guess my ds not severe enough he hs GD non verb ,autistic traits hypermoblity and hypotonia al i get told from drs and salt oh hes such a pleaseant chap

r3dh3d · 06/02/2009 14:32

Like everyone you talk to, there is a certain overhead in having meetings with these people and keeping them up to date. If they aren't in a position to do anything for you (sometimes the individual is useless but more often the council gives them no budget) then the overhead may not be worth it. However, It's hard to get Direct Payments without one, and they will help you chase up SS OT who are the people who manage (or mismanage, again depends on local budgets) equipment and adaptations for home.

By and large, I'd say "useful". But mine is off long-term sick with depression due to entire working life spent banging his head against the brick wall of SS funding.

vjg13 · 06/02/2009 14:57

Phoenix, you should ask about direct payments. Your son may be too young at the moment but if you get DLA you should be able to get something. We started getting it when my daughter was about 7 but that was when I asked. Noone from SS will tell you about it!

Phoenix4725 · 06/02/2009 19:29

vjg hess 31/2 e get high rate moblity and high rate care and i forgotten what a night sleep is

vjg13 · 06/02/2009 19:43

Time to ring social services and ask!!

madwomanintheattic · 06/02/2009 21:25

no. we've never had one.

but they are useful if you are prepared to battle for dps/ respite. unfortunately in our borough children with disabilities find it very difficult to get dps or respite unless they also happen to have a single, alcoholic/ drug addict parent or a violent abusive partner, because clearly everyone else can cope

oh, and she's 'not disabled enough' these days lol.

that said, we got excellent respite through ed psych and lea from first birthday, so didn't ever really need a social worker lol...

btw - not averse to sw's at all, they do a sterling job given the exigencies of time and funding.

just still ticked at the head of services who briefed a parent's conference i attended that unless we had 'other issues' than severe disability, we wouldn't qualify for the extremely limited funding available through the children with disabilities team...

rant over. sorry!

PheasantPlucker · 07/02/2009 10:03

We have one for dd1. I almost fought to get a designated SW. She is not a lot of use, but has been helpful at times. And when the respite reviews come around it seems to help that we have someone who actually has some idea about dd1's needs.
Ours is from The Children with Disabilities Team at the local borough.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 07/02/2009 17:30

So are Direct Payments different to DLA? Can you not get Direct Payments without a Social Worker. They didn't say whether it was a specific children's disability one so i shall check that thankyou.

OP posts:

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