SALT - should I send this or just go straight to formal complaint?

[StarlightWonderStarlightBright]

Dear X,

Happy New Year.

I arrived home a couple of days ago and was disappointed to find that the assessment document had not been delivered. As you know I have made repeated requests for this and for the opportunity to go through it with a Speech and Language Therapist and despite promises from you that you would arrange it we are now over three months on and I am without the information which is diminishing in usefulness to us.

You are also aware that I have asked of your service in the week before the CDAC, on the morning of the CDAC (21st September) and on the 12th October what outcomes has there been for Sam of your service input and how you know this. To this date I have not had an answer. Given then, that I must assume there has been none, and my desire for information which you possess that could have been extremely useful in my planning for Sam's progress and understanding I am alarmed that this still has not been made available to me.

You may be aware that I was close to making a formal complaint in August when it became clear to me that there was lack of clarity, planning, assessment and monitoring of Ross' problems and progress but agreed to meet with you and Christine and try to work out a way of moving forward. I held back then from complaining as it is my wish to move forward and ensure that Sam's needs are met rather than get side-tracked into dispute. I was also keen not to jeopardise what should have been a good working relationship. However, I am sad to say that I have seen no changes since that meeting. Sam has had no meaningful or appropriate therapy. I have not been involved or been shown the 'plan' and the assessment data is being deliberately kept from me. As a full and committed partner with a central role in Sam's progress, education and therapy I find this alarming.

I am therefore making one final request that this assessment is with me by Friday 8th January. Given the lack of information, service, progress, outcomes, provision outline, therapy, joint working with parents, timely assessments, preschool support, home support, clinic sessions etc. I feel that Sam has nothing to lose by my submitting a formal complaint should this document not be forthcoming with immediate effect.

Yours hopefully,

Starlight

Hi

Difficult one.

If you go down the formal complaint route then you will be taken seriously and should obtain the document.

If you send the letter above it may be the wake-up call that gets you the document and information, or they could just prolong it by asking you to make a formal application under the DP/FOI.

Your choice.

My solicitor advised me that if i needed to write a letter of complaint that i should always copy it to some other interested/ responsible party and make it clear in the letter by showing that it had been 'cc'd' to someone else.

As for the actual letter - I would chop it by 50% . Just set out the absolute details with dates etc. It's a bit too long which makes it appear 'over-friendly' IYSWIM.

Thanks Wet I'll try and chop it. I have already asked for the document under the DP (along with everything they hold on us), but will have to wait 40 days. I want the information to inform our next ABA workshop.

Now.....who to CC?

The person's boss? The LEA?

Would try to insert the fact that you have a statutory right to this information as the parent of X;a right you have already exercised in requesting the information and that should you be denied it you will lodge a further complaint with the Information Commissioner?

PALs?

Thanks for the tip. Jeesh. Never decreasing circles!

PALS have no 'teeth'. Who contracts her services - the LEA or the NHS? If NHS then the PCT may be the answer.

NHS atm. Final statement expected next week then it'll be the LEA I presume, not that anyone takes the time to explain these things to me.

Appreciate your responding.

Too long, too wordy, too supplicating.
They didn't do as promised/agreed.
Why give them another chance?

You need to read the Bercow report and the Lamb Inquiry which damn the powers that be over and over again for all you refer to. I'll send you something else too to your email address.

LOL Hey Moondog

You know, between you, you and WetAugust are MEAN!

Much appreciated though.

Why give them another chance?

Because I don't wanna win an argument, I just want some decent and reasonable support for my ds.

Although...worth considering adding to your one big humungous complaint/case at tribunal and not getting caught up in chasing myriad lesser complaints.
As I say, it's another arrow in your quiver.

Moondog DS can't really afford to wait for things that can possibly be resolved now.

I reckon I've done well to get him a final statement (although not worth the paper it is written on) just 4 months after private dx and 3 months after NHS and at just over the age of 3. I have to remind myself of what I have done to stop my heart sinking at the mountain I still have to climb.

So I'm in the 2 month appeal window, and then SENDIST waiting list is 6 months. Even with the best 'case' in the whole world I cannot see WHY a LA would agree to fund ABA until the tribunal date, - saving themselves at least 8 months worth of funding and a good chance that the parent will give up. The system stinks.

Anyway, - From my experience I think that it is extremely unlikely that I won't have much still to complain about wrt SALT come the tribunal. I can at least seek to improve things to some extent in the meantime. If it weren't for you, and some private SLT's who have been generous with their phone time I would rate SALTs on a par with crystal healers for their explanations and effectiveness.

Found a good CC. The Children's Trust lead for Being Healthy is a PCT bod.

Just spoke to the SLT Manager or our area now who promised me one of her team would get back to me today. I just cut to the chase and told her the only useful thing her team had done for us was to produce this assessment for our planning so deliberately keeping it from us is madness. Also asked for a change of SLT given that my ds has been under the current one for a year and made no progress as a result of her input. I asked for someone who had experience in EBP, failing that, ABA.

Who knows what will happen, but I reckon I'll be writing the complaint this evening.

Star, just a quick note to say that you have 2 names in your letter. If one of them is your DS's real name, you might want to contact MNHQ and get it changed

Thanks Lou. I did spot it but am okay with it.

Right! Think the SLT manager has been on their case. I could hear in her voice a sigh that she didn't want me to phone her any more and I think she has told them to 'deal' with me....anyway

Got an appointment with the senior SLT that did the assessment. She has put a copy of it in the post (about fecking time) and has agreed to meet me on Thursday to go through it. She even offered to show me all of the pictures etc.

After that, I get an appointment with my SLT and the SLT that wrote the statement so that they can address my concerns re. outcomes i.e. that there haven't been any.

I will take the opportunity to present them with my dates and expected provision and insist on front-loaded support and I have no embarassment about telling my SLT she knows jack shit about PECS! I've not lost my manners (I hope) but I've lost my ability to save face, particularly theirs!