Care Needs assessment - no time limit

Wibbles

Grrrrr !!

Just received another email from the Adult Social Care Department - asking me to phone them to discuss a care needs assessment

They clearly need retraining

I AM UNABLE TO SPEAK !

Camellia

I wasn’t aware you had speech difficulties. It sounds like you need to very clearly spell out your need for reasonable adjustments - in writing - if you haven’t done so already. 

Camellia

Providing the information I promised you yesterday Wibbles

https://www.campaignrealcare.org/_files/ugd/f4df91_2b2b509bb1674b4e90e36f68340cda43.pdf

I have attempted to send a link which has the 9 areas of well being under the act as well as the eligibility criteria the council must work to under the act. 

Please also refer back to earlier messages of mine where I put the real care tool kit links (or explore the website associated with the above link) - to find the real care tool kit which gives step by step directions for doing your own self assessment which the council then has to work from to formulate a care plan and how to challenge the council if there is disagreement as to what your needs are and/or how to best address them. 

I cannot emphasise enough my concern that you find a specialist care act advocacy service in your area that covers your conditions to support you with this process. 

Unless you have an amazing assessor who fully gets your condition or is prepared to learn from you if they do not; the process can be very time consuming and emotionally draining - and it sadly comes down to the law. That said once you have got your needs assessment done correctly it has the potential to be life changing. 

Wibbles

Camellia said:

Providing the information I promised you yesterday Wibbles

https://www.campaignrealcare.org/_files/ugd/f4df91_2b2b509bb1674b4e90e36f68340cda43.pdf

I have attempted to send a link which has the 9 areas of well being under the act as well as the eligibility criteria the council must work to under the act. 

Please also refer back to earlier messages of mine where I put the real care tool kit links (or explore the website associated with the above link) - to find the real care tool kit which gives step by step directions for doing your own self assessment which the council then has to work from to formulate a care plan and how to challenge the council if there is disagreement as to what your needs are and/or how to best address them. 

I cannot emphasise enough my concern that you find a specialist care act advocacy service in your area that covers your conditions to support you with this process. 

Unless you have an amazing assessor who fully gets your condition or is prepared to learn from you if they do not; the process can be very time consuming and emotionally draining - and it sadly comes down to the law. That said once you have got your needs assessment done correctly it has the potential to be life changing. 

Thanks - I will try to do as you advise - but finding a suitable advocate is going to prove difficult

Still - I do have plenty of time on my hands and a willingness to fight for my rights - and, now the knowledge to know what I am fighting for.... I would just like to say "council : watch out : Wibbles is coming for you !!"

Camellia

Great to hear 👍

I believe the council has a statutory duty to fund independent advocacy services for people eligible for a needs assessment for care act matters. 

I had to also to fight for advocacy services after having a certain manager at my local advocacy service initially repeatedly turn me down - had to ring up and ask how to initiate a formal complaint and they offered for another manager to look into it - he rang me and that fortunately solved my problem without my having to go though the formal complaints process. 

I hope you can find a suitable advocacy service with a good advocate for you.  Is there a local support group for you and your wife’s conditions - they may know about how to get advocacy or know who to ask if it isn’t straightforward using only a google search. 

Even if you do get an advocate - you have to provide the info in an organised way for them to be able to help you - hence the real care tool kit to help you do just that yourself. 

I will leave you to it. Am going through this myself at the moment an am admittedly struggling to be understood and have my needs taken seriously as I have an invisible disability that is not readily understood by persons who do not have specialist expertise in my condition. 

Wibbles

I have an assessor coming on Tuesday to carry out a care needs assessment on me !!

It only took them 9 months to arrange ...

I have absolutely no faith in what will happen - but it appears to be all that can be done.

Camellia

I hope you have support and are reasonably prepared 

Wibbles

Camellia said:

I hope you have support and are reasonably prepared 

I have my wife for support - but have no idea what to expect

I am looking for possible support from the council - if my wife ever got ill and was

unable to care for me (although what would happen to my wife if she did become bed bound ?)

Camellia

Sounds like they also need to do a carer’s assessment 

Wibbles

Camellia said:

Sounds like they also need to do a carer’s assessment 

I agree - but my wife will not have one

Camellia

If you do not mind my asking, why is that?  I think anybody who cares for or supports a disabled person (for at least a certain number of hours) and is living in the area is eligible for one even if not disabled themselves. It is for things like respite care, back up care if they themselves get sick, other general support to help maintain their mental health and general well being so they can continue to be a carer.  

Wibbles

Had the long awaited care needs assessment yesterday  - it went quite well

The woman who came was absolutely astounded that I had never had any form of care needs assessment in the 33 years since my accident - somehow I must have kept slipping under the radar.

She told me that OT would contact me within a fortnight - in fact OT emailed me yesterday pm but had obviously got the wrong end of the stick - assuming that I was after a home move (my home is owned by myself - not LA) and I need a different OT team - equipment rather than homes -  but at least things are now moving !

Wibbles

Camellia said:

If you do not mind my asking, why is that?  I think anybody who cares for or supports a disabled person (for at least a certain number of hours) and is living in the area is eligible for one even if not disabled themselves. It is for things like respite care, back up care if they themselves get sick, other general support to help maintain their mental health and general well being so they can continue to be a carer.  

To be honest - I don't understand why but my wife appears to be happy doing EVERYTHING on her own - only complaining when things get too much for her !

Camellia

It honestly would be good for her needs to also be taken into account so she doesn’t feel like it is too much at times. She sounds very devoted to you. 

Fingers crossed 🤞 they can offer you some support - hopefully sufficient for your needs. 

Wibbles

Camellia said:

It honestly would be good for her needs to also be taken into account so she doesn’t feel like it is too much at times. She sounds very devoted to you. 

Fingers crossed 🤞 they can offer you some support - hopefully sufficient for your needs. 

I totally agree with you - she does NEED support - but won't accept this at the moment

I will keep on trying

Wibbles

I'm starting to think that OT are not planning on contacting me - its been 10 days since my care needs assessment with no further contact from anyone !

The woman who responded to me the day of the assessment has done no more

Camellia

I would suggest you in the first instance chase it up robustly - ideally in writing with a paper trail - keep copies of letters, proof of postage, a log detailing dates, to whom etc 

If that doesn’t result in your getting the 
input you require you may need to look into options such as an official complaint with the assistance of an advocate through a non profit disability rights organisation or suchlike. 

Wibbles

OT assessment - arranged for next week !

I have no idea what to expect from this.............

I asked for advice on home improvements (we have an extension planned) - but have simply been offered a "functional OT assessment"

Camellia

That sounds very positive, very glad you have an OT due to come out to your home. Have you received the report yet? 

Wibbles

Camellia said:

That sounds very positive, very glad you have an OT due to come out to your home. Have you received the report yet? 

No - not yet - I will chase it up now !