I share your frustration. I really don’t understand the attitude of this case worker. The easiest way to get mum off the system is to give her a place to live. If he has it in writing from the landlord that there is no damage, he should just get on with it!
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@bowlingbun Literally, a second complaint has been sent and he has now removed himself from being my mums case worker.
A new one will be allocated.
Can’t help but think that by removing himself he has put the blame on me.
I’ve had a long hard think about this, and his demeanour towards people has been shocking.
Homeless is probs one of the worst things you can be. Expecially in the case of disabled people. We have a right to be scared, and upset, we have a right to seek frequent updates.
It would be like a doctor telling a terminal patient that they are being so stupid for asking lots of questions.
I have OCD, I need crystal clear advice from everyone.
Mum needs things explaining in simple terms. It’s all in her care plan.
His attitude of “you’re just being annoying” is just not right. I admit I have been persistent, but let’s be honest - mum is going to be made homeless.
We know there is a procedure to follow, but I have said it would not be fair to put a vulnerable person through the courts to defend herself. (Social services do not want to know)
Despite being told that there were no damages to the property in official documents, he said that he still wanted to attend the property tomorrow and check.
Mum was crying her eyes out because she feels snooped on and like he is invading her home. The letting agents have given him everything he needs but he refused to acknowledge it.
It’s like he is trying to override any decisions made and is looking for a reason not to award a band a.
Just had another email, because I complained about reasonable delays and attitude- they will not provide another case worker until after they have investigated. This will be on the 3rd May.
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I’ve just spoken to someone higher up. I’ve had a right telling off. been told I’ve disturbed the system.
Im sorry but I read forms on a daily basis and if the male at housing actually spoke and communicated then I would have understood, I feel like I’ve been led into a bear trap.
Now I’ve spoken to the person higher up I understand more.
Before they judge, they should remember I’m a 27 year old carer with health problems.
I’m so alone. I’m just thinking of chucking my phone off a cliff and living under a rock somewhere.
IM DONE.!!!
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A telling off?!
It’s 2 months since you wrote “mum’s been offered a flat” and they’ve been messing you around all this time, without any outcome.
“The system” is supposed to be there to help you!
There are some principles around how officers are supposed to behave, I think called the Nolan Principles. Seems the people you are dealing with need further training!!! Hang on in there.
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@bowlingbun Exactly this. I have just been discussing it with my sister. It seems like there is a massive nuance in communication which has caused this.
I’m a very direct person and even then I don’t think the caseworker discussed what was happening very well.
Like I say I have OCD and things have to be crystal clear otherwise it can lead to spiraling what ifs which cause distress.
Mum also has a care plan which states that she needs things explaining in more depth than the average person, she also needs to understand what is asked of her.
So what we do know is someone from the letting agency did say that the house is in disrepair. We don’t know how it was said- there’s no paper trail. Everyone is confused. We only know it was said because the case worker said their name.
Regardless they investigated.
The case worker needed more documents and he was trying to get them from the first person he spoke to let’s call them person 1.
Person 1 went off sick. The caseworker couldn’t contact them to get the required documents.
The docs were sent by person 2 who said there is no evidence of this being said and the section 21 is due to the sale of the house Etc. no rent arrears nothing against the tenant.
The case worker would not accept this on its own.
The case worker then decided he would come round to the house to conduct an investigation.
There are two ways you can look at this. One is what happened and the other is what should have happened.
What happened.!!
The case worker was dragging their heels contacting someone else.
They received the docs including 1.5 month old inspection reports but this was not enough.
Case worker said he wants to inspect the damage and gave us a date and time. What damage!!!??? The letting agent said there is none.
We then got scared like we were under investigation. We were of the belief he would come round to the house and pick faults and then say mum made herself homeless. Paramount reason to panic.
I submitted a complaint stating we were made to feel like criminals who had damaged a property despite no evidence and the backing of the landlord. We felt not listened to. The caseworker just kept saying he would come and inspect based on what was said.
I got the call from a higher up person after I submitted the complaint. (I later had to cancel this complaint) she told me off. And told me their intentions,
So this is what should have happened! They blamed me for misinterpretation. I hate to sound arrogant, I’m a fully qualified and experienced journo- I know what I heard.
Even though person 1 got it wrong they still had to carry out the investigation as part of their duty to prevent homelessness. Apparently it is common for landlords to cite this reason without it being true. An investigation is meant to clarify if there is or isn’t any damage, and or if it’s reasonable wear and tear or straight neglect. Fair enough, that’s very reasonable.
Part of their primary help was supposed to be to carry out this investigation and then go back to the letting agents to report findings. Regardless of reasoning because it was said they had to investigate.
I understand this reasoning.
Instead I have reacted badly based on what was said. The case worker did not provide a reasoning why this was happening and it felt like we were being accused of something.
We were afraid he would come to the house and tear the place to shreds no pun intended. In turn it would jeapordise her housing and get her thrown of the list.
Had he said it was procedure I would have understood. It’s wrong and the letting agents will be told off, but nonetheless I would have understood. We wouldn’t be in the mess.
But the arrogant DH did it wrong. Now I feel like I can’t complain.
But yeah they did tell me off.
And you are right about the offers. Mum was also offered a bungalow, but the allocations team they found evidence of rats in it. They said they didn’t know how long it would take to sort it out.
(It’s currently near a major and I mean major roadworks scheme. Most ambitious in the country apparently)
Knowing my council it will take six elections, 24 pay rises, and 62 consultations before they even make a phone call.
Mums just back in the system again for bidding but if she isn’t successful it will be offered once ready.
Bidding opens tonight, I hope there is something suitable. We also hope mum comes top of the list for something, but I say this every week. I’m just gearing myself up to be knocked down again.
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@Coolcar98, you done nothing wrong, you should have not been made to feel like that you should cancel the complaint. Social services never like having egg on their face. You should have stood your ground,perhaps when things quite down do a article about the breakdown in a housing system for the vulnerable.
Hang on in there. With your work I think once mum is in her new home you have a lot of ammunition!
We have got a new case worker, a woman this time. She was very nice.
MUM HAS BEEN AWARDED A BAND A!!! 
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Great, you must feel so relieved!
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Hooray!!! I’m so happy for you and mum.
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It just goes to show that other guy was being a right dh.
I just got the call randomly. I wasn’t expecting it today. The person said she was a senior person.
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Maybe she saw your complaint and decided it was totally justified?!
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HURRAY!!! Brilliant news.
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I am pleased for you and for your mother but sorry the whole thing was such a huge fight and a huge amount of effort. Please try to ‘step back’ and relax a little now.
Whilst it all sounds brilliant right now. It’s come very much at crunch time.
We got the call on Friday only there was nothing which came up on the bidding system suitable for mum this week. They were all two beds or on the other side of the city. Sadly it was just one of them weeks.
Hopefully something comes up this week.
Mum did come first for a bungalow and was offered it, however they told me on Thursday that it will be another six weeks before it’s ready. I personally think she should be offered a reasonable alternative.
That case worker also seriously effed up.
I was looking on the bidding app today and I pressed the section where it said previous bids. Before when she was solely on Band B it said stuff like 2nd, 3rd, 4th. However ever since it’s gone to Band A it’s changed every single number.
On all but 1, it says she would have come first if she was Band A at the time. This is evened out as the only one she came second on, they did another property doors away the following week. She would have come first for this. This includes a property which mum loved and she should have been made band A.
As you can see this is the reality of it. All those properties missed out on because of the unreasonable delays.
I also spoke to the case worker about what happens if it goes beyond the 16th May. Yes it can go to court, but mum could incur the court costs, the council say they will not help her.
How is this right in this day and age. Where someone cannot get the right legal advice because of their money. It could cost about £1000 where is she supposed to get the money from. The carers take everything anyway.
The case worker said she could move in with family and friends, I live in an effing bedsit. I don’t know how many times I have to tell these people.
If we can spend £8 million a day housing people from everywhere into hotels we should be looking after people who have lived in the country and paid into the system for 58 years.
The only other option is to appeal to the good nature of the landlord and get an extension. Surely this would be the better option if a place is lined up. There will be costs for the landlord too and it’s probably easier for us to say you can have your rent, she’s leaving on this day. Then everyone wins.
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Have you seen this? Woman facing eviction told she would cope living on the streets - BBC News
The poor woman, considering Rishi Sunak is trying to make homeless illegal he is forcing this woman to commit a crime.
We have a saying at work. We hear different stories on the news and our response is always "Well they announced covid measures overnight, why cant they
Why are homes in this country seen as assets.
I’ll just post this. Not as an arrogant show offy way, but because this evening I realised something.
I went a day without worrying.
Well, not 100 percent true, I spent a day not worrying once about the situation with mum. I just had worries about normal things.
I managed to get down to Liverpool today for a comic con and my god it was the biggest one I’ve ever been to. I thought Manchester was massive last year. There were a few mishaps on the journey home with cancelled trains and getting pushed over by a drunk person (in Leeds) as I was boarding the train.
I did start to well up as I got into Liverpool - mainly because Liverpool as a place was very important to my family. We always dreamed of moving there for a better life and had many holidays there. The last time I saw dad was when he was taken away by the paramedics to the hospital, he was watching a Liverpool match. I wish I could have told him I was going today. It’s the first time I have been since his passing.
But coming home I realised I didn’t do my usual annoying thing of vigorously checking the bidding app to see if numbers were okay. I only checked once and she’s still position 1.
I didn’t worry about mum. She called me during the day and I was telling her about it and how I could see the Mersey ferry. (Important family memory) But I did not worry!!
Did I experience my first day of not worrying about being a carer for the first time in years. A
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I hope you have many more days like this.
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Cool car, I’m so pleased you had a great day out, reminding you of your “real” self, as I call it. Just shows how stressed you’ve been. Please plan another little trip away soon.
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