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Care Needs assessment - no time limit

Wibbles

I have discovered that there is no requirement for a Local Authority to provide a Care Needs Assessment within a certain time frame – they could take 10 years – the average is 4-6 weeks but I have already been waiting for over 8 weeks and there’s no sign of any assessment yet.

The law should be changed

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poppy123456

I waited 6 months for my needs assessment. The pandemic did mean that waiting times increased quite a lot. I think waiting 10 years is a little excessive and has probably never happened.

Wibbles

poppy123456 said:

I waited 6 months for my needs assessment. The pandemic did mean that waiting times increased quite a lot. I think waiting 10 years is a little excessive and has probably never happened.

I agree and hope not

But there should be legislation to ensure that it can't happen
At the moment, in theory at least - there is nothing to stop it from happening

Wibbles

I am STILL waiting for a Care Needs Assessment after almost 5 months of asking for one
The department is now IGNORING my emails!

bg844

I referred myself on Thursday 9th (last week), was told it’s likely to be 7 months before I’m seen to however if my needs ever became urgent to phone back. I have had an email with a questionnaire which I’ll reply via email so the actual assessment itself won’t be as long (as advised by the LA).

Unfortunately, like Poppy has said above, the waiting times have jumped up due to the pandemic. The same goes for most things too.

ClaraSais

I must add that I did have a carers assessment but don’t receive any help or support. The stroke association (my dad is disabled due to a severe stroke) were most helpful.

poppy123456

poppy123456 said:

I waited 6 months for my needs assessment. The pandemic did mean that waiting times increased quite a lot. I think waiting 10 years is a little excessive and has probably never happened.

My needs assessment was in November 2022. However, quite a few weeks ago i had a phone call from an OT who told me they had received a referral for me. I explained that i'd already had a needs assessment last year. She told me that wasn't a full needs assessment and she would like to come out to complete this ASAP.

Two days later she was at my house. I'm now waiting for my stairlift to be fitted, measurements have been taken and also waiting for plans to be drawn for a new fully fitted bathroom with walk in shower.

This was 9 months after i first referred myself. So yes the waiting times have increased considerably since Covid.

ClaraSais

@poppy123456 I’m glad you have got some help at last

Wibbles

Biblioklept said:

I can't help but wonder how long they will be able to keep blaming Covid for everything. I've no doubt it had a huge impact on wait times and everything else but most of these things had ridiculous lists even before Covid
Hope you hear something soon @Wibbles

The reasons is clearly FINANCIAL

poppy123456

Biblioklept said:

I can't help but wonder how long they will be able to keep blaming Covid for everything. I've no doubt it had a huge impact on wait times and everything else but most of these things had ridiculous lists even before Covid

The waiting lists in my area before covid were only a couple of months. When i moved into my current house in October 2019 i only waited until December for my needs assessment.

Wibbles

What ever the reason for the delay
There is no excuse for ignoring my emails

bg844

Wibbles said:

What ever the reason for the delay
There is no excuse for ignoring my emails

Is there any way you could phone them?

onebigvoice

Wibbles said:

I have discovered that there is no requirement for a Local Authority to provide a Care Needs Assessment within a certain time frame – they could take 10 years – the average is 4-6 weeks but I have already been waiting for over 8 weeks and there’s no sign of any assessment yet.

The law should be changed

I completely agree, since I was contacted only yesterday afternoon and can't understand how these people call them selves professional at what they do.
Briefly: After spending 3 months in a coma, and 7 months in hospital, was released after having to learn to walk again to his parents who his dad is his Appointee. so after 2 years and the council giving him a 1 bed flat, on the third floor no lift? After months of trying to get appropriate housing they went private, father paid £1700 up front, no assistance from council and council in one of two TXT sent in two years said they will extend his Certificate for Life (ESA) for another year, all this in the middle of a lock down 2 years ago. Since they already have access to his medical history why didn't ESA steer his father to PIP's since in calling PIP's 2 years ago and again about 8 months ago said the assessor was still looking even though he has had no forms ever and no assessment? for PIP's.
Because he was released into his parents care? How was he released without any follow up? No GP referrals? No housing help?
Have asked him to ring housing since his partner who cares for him along with his father, is now going to move in with him and would alter the tenancy and needs to state this is a permanent thing not only for the care part, to start the ball rolling.
Will up date when he rings back to see how he has got on.
Yes there are other things as well, which he has made notes for since his father works and doesn't always see what is going on, as the council said in the first instance except the flat or your name goes to the bottom and start again, it took 2 1/2 years to get any where and it was only being released to his fathers care that got him out of hospital.

onebigvoice

Biblioklept said:

I can't help but wonder how long they will be able to keep blaming Covid for everything. I've no doubt it had a huge impact on wait times and everything else but most of these things had ridiculous lists even before Covid
Hope you hear something soon @Wibbles <

They have a new excuse, its the strike action that is throwing every thing up in the air?
1. the assessors are not subjected to the same rules as the Main Contract holder.
2. Assessments are or can be Zoom or paper based and a Link can be sent to have the form completed on a computer or Phone.
3. Most haven't gone back to office working as its easier to work from home less costs.
down side they don't have the same access to files working from home even though they say they have. Why does it take an hour to answer a call then?

Camellia

I think the care act 2014 states to effect that the assessments shouldn’t be unduly delayed. Statutory guidance for the act is available on gov.uk. You would need to do your own due diligence- you may be able to make an enquiry through Access Social Care whose website is accesscharity.org.uk

Wibbles

onebigvoice said:

Biblioklept said:

I can't help but wonder how long they will be able to keep blaming Covid for everything. I've no doubt it had a huge impact on wait times and everything else but most of these things had ridiculous lists even before Covid
Hope you hear something soon @Wibbles <
They have a new excuse, its the strike action that is throwing every thing up in the air?
1. the assessors are not subjected to the same rules as the Main Contract holder.
2. Assessments are or can be Zoom or paper based and a Link can be sent to have the form completed on a computer or Phone.
3. Most haven't gone back to office working as its easier to work from home less costs.
down side they don't have the same access to files working from home even though they say they have. Why does it take an hour to answer a call then?

They had better not try to get away with a zoom call for my care assessment - I am unable to speak on the phone - so definately not via zoom !

It would be an extremely one sided chat

I am going to INSIST on a face to face - using reasonable adjustments..... equalities act 2010 etc

My problem is still - I have now sent the department 3 emails over the last 10 days - each one has received a "read" with no further response

I have just sent an email to the departmental head - lets see what happens to that

If that fails - its going to be my MP and/or Whatdotheyknow.com

Wibbles

Camellia said:

I think the care act 2014 states to effect that the assessments shouldn’t be unduly delayed. Statutory guidance for the act is available on gov.uk. You would need to do your own due diligence- you may be able to make an enquiry through Access Social Care whose website is accesscharity.org.uk

Brilliant - thanks

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If your wellbeing is affected by 2 or more of the following (which mine most definitely IS)

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6027153/uploads/editor/e0/z4ni0796ip2c.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6027153/uploads/editor/48/ggyvc9b3e74b.jpg

Wibbles

The councils latest auto response says that they will reply within 2 days - so if there's nothing by Tuesday - something will hit the fan, and it's going to be very messy !

Wibbles

poppy123456 said:

Biblioklept said:

I can't help but wonder how long they will be able to keep blaming Covid for everything. I've no doubt it had a huge impact on wait times and everything else but most of these things had ridiculous lists even before Covid

The waiting lists in my area before covid were only a couple of months. When i moved into my current house in October 2019 i only waited until December for my needs assessment.

i've never had a care needs assessment and I've been disabled for 32 years !

Wibbles

Teddybear12 said:

Unfortunately the waits for all care and assessments and hospital appointments are long at the moment. Am I correct in thinking even when you have had the assessment you will not be able to claim any help with cost because of savings? Do you have any idea yourself what would make your life easier?

You are correct - due to a largish redundancy payment, 13 years ago and my stupidity in not only living within my means since then and also investing the savings - no financial assistance will be available, or expected.

I have no idea as to what would help except for a downstairs toilet and large kitchen with accessible entry to the rear of the house !

I already have bars and grab rails around the house and a bath step and bed step as well as an adjustable bed...........self purchased

I think mainly - I am looking for a support contact to be able to email - should my wife/carer ever fall ill or worse !

Wibbles

I sent 5 emails to the department email address over the last month - totally ignored

So - I googled the name of the department head and sent him an email / copied to the department email and this got a response