Hello everyone, I wanted to get some feedback from you all as to how you perceive how adult social care support, not just the person you are caring for but also yourself? I find they offer me no support at all.
Hi @Tilly and welcome!
I think most of us have felt this way at one time or another - some of us have had long experience of poor service!
That said, Iāve come across some carers who did get a lot of help - they certainly needed it.
I have been battling for years. In my area Iāve seen local social workers jobs advertised, pay starts at Ā£50,000 plus a Ā£10,000 allowance, purpose unspecified! Yet they havenāt even read and learned the Care Act Regulations. It really worries them when I quote the relevant regulations to them.
Last week, I was sent the response to a formal complaint Iād made about a 3 year delay in doing my Carers Assessment. It is so short itās ridiculous.
Yes I know, they take so long to do anything. Has anyone been part of a safeguarding investigation around something that does not reach the safeguarding threshold yet social care still continue with it?
That sounds very odd, but with SSD, anything is possible.
I once made a Safeguarding complaint after my sonās carers spent Ā£250 of his money one week, taking him overdrawn, when the care plan said his Ā£100 a week budget was for food and activities only.
When I complained to the provider, they blamed me for not giving him more money!
At that time I was too disabled to work, my weekly food budget for me and my eldest son was just Ā£50 a week.
Instead of investigating the provider, they investigated ME to start with!
Then the head Mental Capacity assessor for the county stepped in.
He told the council that I was doing absolutely everything correctly.
I used to manage accounts for a small hospital in Australia long ago and was a very good advocate for M.
Later, the LA manager told me he wasnāt bothered about my complaint, his top priority was keeping on good terms with the provider!!!
The council appointed an auditor to monitor the way the provider managed Mās money records, which were really terrible.
The auditor later told me that they were so bad there wasnāt even enough to audit properly, so he wrote the most diplomatic letter to them.
Rather than improve their record keeping they said they would no longer support my son for both day and home care. Utter nightmare.
That is awful, I am glad someone stepped in and stopped the investigation. I have been accused of cleaning my brothers teeth. The carers used to do it but were not doing a good job so I took it over. He has complex issues in his mouth, loose teeth, oral flush, is autistic so hates the sensation of it so it was easier all round if I did it as I know him so well. That is one of the things I am being investigated for, yet my doing my brothers teeth is in his best interest. I understand a carer/s think I took over his care because they are not doing it properly, which is true. Does anyone on this forum think that could be a safeguarding concern?
I agree, there salaries are not justified at all, yet we are doing all the hard work caring for our loved ones and we get a pittance in benefits. Its all wrong.
Actually it is the carers who should be investigated, not you!
You love and care for him more than anyone else, as I do my son. Itās so wrong.
It is very wrong, I feel its malicious, I have been accused of putting to much cream on my brother. I do not put cream on as its the carers role, the only time I intervene is if they refuse to do something. Its a few little things like that. No neglect issues or anything like that, just tiny niggly things. I think it is malicious but why is it me that is being cross examined? I cant sleep, have lost a stone in weight in one week, I am traumatised, I feel like I have no control over anything anymore, its a complete injustice.
Did you know all personal care was regulated by the Care Quality Commission?
Have a look at their site, and search for the care provider.
I strongly suspect that you are not the only one being treated like this.
Give them a ring tomorrow to let them know.
My mum spoke to them when her carers were substandard, it turned out lots of other clients were not happy.
Itās so important to speak up, it protects not just your brother but also those who donāt have anyone else to speak up for them.
No I did not know that, thank you, that is very interesting. I had planned to give them a call first thing in the morning anyway as social care have booked an advocate to visit my brother to ask him some questions about his care. I have made a point of saying there needs to be someone with him because a) he has severe learning difficulties so he will not really understand what they are asking (I am the that always helps explain things to him in a way to help him understand) so not being able to understand is going to cause him stress b) he has dementia - so he will get even more confused and anxious, especially with a stranger in the room and if he cant see me c) he is autistic so is not very keen on complete strangers, he does like being stared at and d) he has acute anxiety disorder which is on all his medical notes - so again, a stranger coming into his safe space is going to really worry him. I was wondering if anyone else had been through this and what our rights are as carers? When the advocate rung me to make an appointment she told me in no uncertain terms that I did not need to be there, when I tried to explain to her its all going to cause him increased anxiety she got really stroppy and started on at me saying āoh well, I have been an advocate, I know what I am doingā. I think I should at least be able to be in the next room and to be able to tell my brother that if he gets worried or scared he can call out my name.
My son also has SLD in some areas due to brain damage at birth, but in other ways heās fine. He canāt read, write or do any maths but his flat is immaculate and he can drive a 10 ton traction engine!
One social worker who only saw him at his flat decided he only had moderate learning difficulties, not severe. I had to get that corrected! He always says what he thinks someone wants him to say especially when pressured. He needs me to interpret for him. His assessment was done without telling either of us in advance. Subsequently the social worker wrote he wasnāt interested in steam engines anymore To squash that we filmed him driving a mile down a private road, all by himself!
Goodness me, it amazes me how they can make these decisions when they hardly know the client yet we have known our relatives for ever, yet our voice is not heard. Out of interest, do you know if they can question my brother without a family member/friend present? they will be causing my brother considerable stress and anxiety which in my mind raises a safeguarding issue about them. What do you all think?
I think you should be there to support and reassure him, same as my son needs me.
I agree but I guess it depends on what the CQC say when I ring them in the morning to ascertain what rights I have
Hi Tilly,
Welcome to the forum.
Your brother sounds complex to care for, he is lucky to have you looking out for him
Those are very silly and petty allegations.
I suspect you wonāt be allowed to be present as the safeguarding concerns raised are about you. I understand your concerns re your brother needing your support during the interview- it would be the same for my caree āSā.
Are there any other familiar family members or friends who could be present instead
I suggest you contact your local carers centre for support until this sorted out.
My mum and I care for my grandma who is 90 with advanced vascular dementia. Grandma owns the property where we care for her so is classed as a āself-funderā. We donāt want to pay hundreds per week for maybe 10 minute visits from care workers and there is no respite care. So the LA just leaves us to get on with it with practically zero support. Feels like the social workers are paid just to means test and tell you what private services you have to pay for.
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Who has told you this?
In England, while grandma is living in her house, the value of the house is NOT considered.
She is only classed as āself fundingā if she has over about Ā£23,000.
She should also be entitled to Attendance Allowance and EXEMPTION from Council Tax.
Google āCharging for Careā and look at the .gov site.
I would strongly suggest that you ring the Carers UK Helpline for personalised, confidential information and a benefits check.
Iāve never got the impression from our LA that they would provide free social care to my grandma. Or nobody has ever given us the right advice or guidance. Nobody from the NHS has ever suggested a CHC assessment either.
They must provide care in accordance with the Care Act Regulations.
I printed my own copy, but many social workers seem not to have read it!
I once helped a family claim disability benefits for their adult son with Downās Syndrome and learning difficulties. They had missed out for over 20 years, no one had ever asked them if they were claiming!