Can OT write this in report?

[claw3]

I have had nothing but trouble with OT. She assessed ds in late 2008 early 2009 1:1 sessions. Then disappeared off the face of the earth.

I had to make an official complaint about her after i did not receive a report or the sensory diet that was promised and she did not return any of my calls for 6 months.

Anyway come February 2010, the sent new OT into school to observe ds once and then wrote a report. They are stating any findings from 2008/2009 cannot be written in the report as OT is on long term sick.

So report is based on that one observation.

After getting a copy of ds school file for SA tribunal i found a note of a convo between OT and SENCO in 2008.

OT states that ds is in 'fright or flight mode the entire time, is severely intolerant of touch etc'

In report OT states 'This report constitutes his current needs from an OT perspective following a review. This recent review demonstrates that ds is making pleasing progress. He is more tolerant to unexpected touch at school. There is evidence from O.T. clinical observation and school report, that x is developing his ability to self regulate within his environment.

Despite OT attending a meeting in September 2009 with school and myself because ds could NOT tolerate touch and continues NOT to tolerate touch.

Also 'school staff agree x has been more settled and less anxious within this environment during the last 12 months. It is pleasing to note that Occupational Therapy observation has found no new evidence, that x's sensory difficulties previously identified are currently impacting on his functional performance within the school environment'

He ended up in hospital in Dec 2009 caused by self injurious behaviour. The school have sent him home because he needed medical treatment for pulling his eyelashes out, he eye swelled up. He is receiving 1:1 therapy at CAMHS to make sense of the world. He cant eat in school.

I am going mad or is this just totally unacceptable?

Can they right this shit in a report?

write not right!

Sounds like they are bowing to pressure not to identify additional needs. Would a CAF assessment help. It would be hard to maintain their opinion in the face of the evidence from you, CAMHS and health.

Is this report part of a stat assessmnent?

Claw3 _ I might be wrong, but I think that reports only stand for 6 months. Check with IPSEA, but as far as I am aware after this, you need a new one. TBH, it sounds to me like the OT was given a whitewash view of DS by the school. Could you request another assessment, with you present (as I think that is your right if it is for SA) then at elast you could correct what is being said.

Al1son, i have moved boroughs and they have to write a report in order to discharge ds from their service. Now for the motivation not to identify needs, new borough doesnt have OT service, so new borough would pay old borough to continue with the service IF IT IS SHOWN THAT HE NEEDS IT. If no needs have been identified there is no need for service to continue.

I dont think there is a need for a CAF, as ds has multiple needs which have been identified by other services, a SA would be more appropriate.

Not part of the SA, as SA has been refused. Report has not been circulated to anyone as i have complained about it.

Ds is now under the care of OT from specialist hospital.

Perhaps i should wait for new OT report and CAMHS and take it to Ombudsman?

Thederkinsdame, this is their 3rd attempt at a report, i have managed to get others shredded for containing inaccurate information and being detrimental to the care that ds can receive.

They are insisting that this one stands.

Yep school are not understanding or identifying ds needs hence SA and therefore any information supplied by school is inaccurate.

I have asked that they re-assess ds and stated unless they assess they cannot identify his needs.

Falling on deaf ears.

What a nightmare, claw3. I'm really sorry I can't offer more useful advice. you need Starlight, really. Senduing you a hug in lieu of no more constructive suggestions.

Thederkin, thanks hug much appreciated

Im wondering whether to just be happy that my objections will be on file or whether to take this further.

Perhaps its not a battle worth fighting and my time and energy would be better spent elsewhere.

I suppose i should be asking what i will gain from the battle. Do i really want ds to continue treatment with a service who obviously dont want to continue treatment and are capable of over looking difficulties in order to achieve this.

I dont have time for principles, really do i!

Kep on with the OT - your DS needs it. Could always ask to be referred to another one, and get them on side with a few appts before they see him at school?

Thederkin, sensory trained OT's are like gold dust here and most Boroughs dont have them.

There are only 2 in my previous borough and they are the 2 that ds has already seen.

OT from hospital specialist clinic is now assessing him and is very much on side. So i could use her report to show that ds does have needs, unfortunately i would only be referred back to old OT's for treatment.

Report also says that school report that ds wets himself in school, this has NEVER happened.

There is nothing written on his school file or no written record of this ever having happened by the school.

So can school basically say what the hell they like, without having any evidence to back this up and she can write it in her report, just because it is there opinion?

In theory she could write ds loves PE, ds eats school dinners, ds has lots of friends just because the school tell her?

Even if the school has written in their IEP, ds hates PE, ds doesnt eat in school and has no friends?

Surely that cant be right?

Oh claw3, it's so unfair that he should be so stressed in school and it not be acknowledged. I think you should get some further reports and use them to challenge the SA decision. The wider political agenda often seems to be more important than the children's needs which is so wrong.

Have you had support from anyone like Parent Partnership through this? If not I think you need some further advice. Have you tried the NAS?

You haven't mentioned an ed psych either - you could contact yours, explain the situation and ask them to come in and observe him.

No it is not right that the OT can write whatever she wants and not be held to account. That's why I wondered about A CAF. People may be more careful only to express opinions they can justify if there are other professionals there in the meeting to see them challenged.

This system really stinks.

Big hugs from me too.

Thanks Al1son, i have plenty of reports and evidence to challenge the SA, also further reports coming from new OT and CAMHS. School sent a form home with ds last week requesting permission for EP to go into school to assess. So SA tribunal is pretty much covered.

Had a meeting with PP this week, she was very nice and seems very much on side.

Its just this bloody OT report. Ive already quoted the Data Protection Act at them about they have to ensure that information is accurate and that they cannot base an opinion on inaccurate information and provided them with evidence that the info that school has provided is inaccurate (from school IEP's and report) ie he doesnt have a problem, then why is it listed as a concern in the IEP.

They are saying its the school's opinion and they cant change that.

So if in schools opinion, ds had two heads and it was blantly obvious that he doesnt and i have evidence to say that he doesnt, they can write it because school are of the opinion that he does!

Its ridiculous!

claw3 - god, they are shocking. One point though (and I am sure I am teaching you to suck eggs here) if this is the school's opinion, remember that the school are not qualified to make that judgement - that's why SA asks qualified healthcare professionals to assess. I think this point needs raising. If they are unduly influencing the process then I seriously think you need to look at getting legal representation from IPSEA on this - they can help, and unlike PP are completely independent. You need to put the school back in their box over this (wish I could come and do it for you!) as they are waaay over the mark with what they are.

Sorry if this is an unhelpful question but - any chance you could move DS to another school?

Thederkin, you have been very helpful and that is a very good point. I seem to have so much going on the moment SA tribunal, DLA tribunal, OT, building work in the house etc, etc, its hard to think straight

I have received a letter from them this morning, (very long) but stating that my letter and objection can be placed on file and they will not share this report with anyone as per my instructions, unless i give them permission in the future.

So i suppose i have managed to get report out of circulation. I could now write to them stating exactly what it is i want changed (literally re-write the bits i am unhappy with)?

I have spoken to IPSEA in the past and they have been very helpful. Takes forever to get through, but will give them a call.

Have ds's name down on waiting list for another school with ASD unit attached, he is 4th on the list, but without a statement he can move down the list as siblings etc, take priority.

Thanks again Derkin, talking about it is helping to get things straight

Head OT is the person im dealing with after making an official complaint to PCT in August 2009. She is just as useless!

The problem im having is they are trying to write a report on ds needs, without actually having assessed his needs and trying to fob me off with, its just a summary, not a comprehensive needs assessment!

How the hell can they write a report, give advise, strategies or even have an opinion, if they dont know what his needs are. Its bonkers

Thats terrible Pipin, your ds ends up in hospital because of the their negligence too

Your ds has his sensory needs written into a statement too and they are still not doing anything?

Thanks Star, they state in their letter that this report is just a summary of information, not a comprehensive needs assessment, but start report 'this report constitutes his current needs from an OT perspective following a review'!

'There is evidence from OT observation and school report that ds is making pleasing progress' (lets ignore all the evidence from other professionals, mum and what ds actually says and does and base report on a 20 minute observation)

'school staff agree that ds has been less anxious in school during the last 12 months' (he ended up in hospital in Dec 2009 self injurious and OT did home visit, sent home from school Feb pulled out his eyelashes, blood on his t-shirt from scratching at his face march, OT attended a meeting in school, Sept 2009 because he could not tolerate touch, the list is endless, all of this is ignored)

I will write to them again (3rd time) there is so much wrong with the report, as you say there wont be much left of it if amended.

OT from specialist hospital is currently assessing ds, so the contrast between reports should be vast.

Thanks again Star.

Hi Pipin, no really sorry i didnt see your reply, was busy yesterday with building work etc and didnt log back on.

Have taken all advice from this thread and will set about writing to them again on Monday. Im finding it really frustrating, despite providing them with copies of evidence and them actually being involved in a lot of it (meeting with the school, home visits for self injurious behaviour etc, that would suggest the exact opposite of what is written in the report, they are refusing to budge.

Star, at the moment tribunal and OT report are 2 separate issues. Obviously if school got a hold of this report, it would be detrimental.

But OT are just trying to cover their own incompetence arses. Ive moved boroughs and they want to discharge ds, but cant do so without a report (no report has ever been written).

They cant write a report, because they havent assessed ds since 2008. If they use the information from 2008 in the report, it states that ds has severe sensory difficulties. They cannot state that ds had severe sensory difficulties and received no treatment since 2008. So they are saying that OT from 2008 is on long term sick (since i made an official complaint about her)hence no info from 2008 can be used in report.

Then glossing over his difficulties in this report and using school to back this up.

Pipin, at the moment no one else is aware that this report exists and i dont want to bring to the LEA's attention.

OT is stating that they will not circulate this report (i know, whats the point of having a report that cant be circulated)

I will write to them again, insisting on amendments and telling them i will take the matter further if amendments are not made.

Thanks again for your help.