Please can you offer me some advice? What would you do if....

[PheasantPlucker]

...the 24 hours a month respite you were offered for your dd following a review panel in December still hasn't started? Despite the SW being told over a month ago at the Review to get it sorted by the Reviewing Officer, and to maintain clear contact with me. SW has been ignoring all my chasing emails for the past 3 weeks, and is 'never in' when I call her.

I am getting so furious about it, and think the SW is taking the piss.

Advice very gratefully received.

have you tried asking to speak to whoeever is the Duty SW to find out what on earth is going on as I would have thought the whole point of being Duty is having to deal with whoever calls with no excuses? Failing that I would be asking for details of their complaints procedure....

I would find out who her manager is and write to her copying in the SW. I would send it registered post with a copy to SNAP?parent Partnership.

I would also log all unsuccessful attempts at making contact and list them in letter.

Contact the 'Director of Social Services' at her office. Phone, email, write to them directly - mark any correspondence 'Private & Confidential" - that way any secretaries opening any mail won't pass on or 'file' - hopefully !

Thanks - will make this my mission next Monday.

What I have done is emailed SW to say that I have left another message (Duty SW said he couldn't help as he didn't know the case....) which I would be grateful she responds to, and copied the Reviewing Officer in on it. (She was pushing SW to get things sorted at the Review). The Reviewing Officer has emailed back to say she has noted my comments, and has forwarded my email to dd's SW's manager.... (who will probably do nothing! Oh excuse my cynicism ) So maybe that might spur some action on Monday.

Honestly I am sick of it. We are also trying to get dd into a Special School from September. The school we favour assessed her on Weds and have told us they would love to have her, that they can meet her needs, and will be writing to LEA to say they will offer her a place. It is only about 3-4 miles away, but it is in the next borough. LEA Caseworker (who is lovely) said on the phone Thursday that she doubts the Panel will go with it, 'and I can see this one going to Appeal'

It gets exhausting doesn't it, the constant battling? Thanks all.

I like the idea of marking things 'private and confidential' Icandothat.

I have just has a message from a local friend that she has had exactly the same treatment from the same SW and has taken it further. Looks like I am joining her, and looks like the precedent has already been set. I am not starting some sort of 'witch hunt' but I do think we deserve better than this. (ie a SW who can actually do her job, and has the courtesy to respond to emails and calls)

sorry calling Duty was no help and best wishes with pursuing this further. You don't need to justify yourself - you have given this SW 3 months to do her job, you have been more than reasonable.

Thanks TotalChaos. I don't want to 'hound' this woman, but am glad I am not the only one thinking this waste of time and lack of contact is unacceptable.