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

[nappyaddict]

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?

Direct Payments are different, they are on top of DLA, they are intended to pay for care that your child is entitled to but social services aren't providing. E.g. instead of SS sending a carer or arranging respite, you would use the Direct Payment money to hire someone to help you out.

oh i see but you can't just have it as extra to help you out with other stuff?

ds has autism for which we get middle rate DLA and no mobility element. never met our special needs HV and never got social services to help.

we moved to another area and got assigned social worker, special needs hv and ed psych within 3 weeks. social worker got us 12hours weekly direct payments for respite care as ds still has no speech, no sense of danger and needs to be watched closely.

I think the level of service depends on the area and everyone should ask for DP and have a assessment done. a very lovely parent advisd us to move and I was surprised at the difference even though we only moved 9 miles from our old place.

As has been said before, their usefulness seems to depend on the team in question, the projects they run and the individual you get. I think our Children's Disability Team is where old social workers go when they are burnt out by child protection! Some are ok, but none are dynamic or creative. I've been told you have to have one if your child receives overnight respite, as they become 'looked after children'. They co-ordinate LAC reviews, but I wouldn't go to them for help - we have found it quicker to do most things ourselves. Perhaps it's worth asking what they can do for you before getting one - your area may be better.

finefatmama

which district you living in think could be time for move anyway ,special hv lol i see mine at 6 monthly paed reviews when i asked her for help got told well your coping very well there others that not so basiclly get on with it

I work as a SSOT. It's not compulsory to have a Social Worker but I'd say it's very useful if you can get one. As HairyMaclary suggested, I'd make sure they're a Child Health and Disablity social worker (or similar title). If you think the one you're allocated is useless, ask for another one as it's important you feel they're going to help you with what you need.

Is that an occupational therapist who works for social services? how are they different to the ones at the hospital?

i'ld guess that they would look at any adaptations/aids your child might need in their home?

Sorry - yes it is, I thought the abreviation was already on here!
All OTs have the same training but specialise later. I've worked as a hospital OT and a paediatrics OT but now in Social Services. The kids OTs in hospitals do standardised assessments of the child and look at ways to enhance skills or compensate for weaknesses - actual therapy. Social services OTs look more at the home environment and how to modify it. They can help you access grants for major or minor home modifications or for large pieces of equipment etc. Mostly they work together but usually the rules about funding mean that the hospital OTs can't request the mods and equipment.
I'd recommend asking the social workers what they can do for you and what the assessment involves.
Good luck with it all.

Social worker can also offer access to holiday playschemes for kids with special needs.

No,we don't qualify

We weretold we could have ne from cp (child protection) if we reported ds1 for absing ds2.

So no we dont have any contact with them at all and just get by on our own now, if you dont ask you cant not get LOL

BUT give them a first go, see what yours arelike, we've probably just been unlucky.

Shymy - we don't need any huge equipment. I would just like something to make it easier to bath DS and something to support him when he's sitting on the floor as he's very unsteady. The biggest thing we needed was a highchair but we managed to buy one of those.

Social Services OTs are better at knowing the full range of equipment available but hospital paediatric OTs usually have a good knowledge of specialist equipment also, especially seating. Worth phoning the departments to ask who funds what and who assesses for what (also whose waiting list is bigger!)
If you want to investigate a few things yourself you can contact the Disablity Living Foundation 0845 130 9177 www.dlf.org.uk/
They've got a huge directory of equipment and can recommend things you might like to try. The company reps will bring things to your house to trial with or without an OT.
(Sorry I've digressed from your original question a bit!)

My ds is profoundly deaf. He has two social workers, one from the sensory team and another from the Link team as he has Link Care too.

Ive always assumed she is........Fio.... maybe she isnt? We have a lovely link family. The husband died two years ago which was sooo sad. We still see the link Mum and Wilf calls her son and daughter his special sister and special brother and through special brother he has two special nephews and a special niece! Its so lovely!!

Our link carer is a Christian too,,, she goes to Baptist Church and sometimes takes Wilf with her!!

Our link manager person was employed by social services but not an actual qualified social worker.

It took family link 2 years to finally admit that they couldn't find anyone who was willing to take DD1 on. So maybe Christians are a bit thinner on the ground round our way?

Shylily - with that DLF thing do you have to get DLA or anything to use it?

No - anyone can use it. Definitely worth phoning them if you ever think of something you need and haven't got an OT on hand.
The website's good too but I usually get a bit braindead by the time I get to the bit I need.
(Often people come to the OT with an idea of what they think will work and the OT just checks there's nothing else they can think of and social services funds it. Just depends on your local/health authority).
Hope you get what you need and get all the right people on board.

This is old thread I’ve just come across my daughter has a rare chromosome condition I’ve had a really bad experience with social workers but only because I’ve been reported from spiteful people lying and stuff so I guess that might be different is a disability social worker or will it be the same I actually hate social workers due to the others being so horrid