Social Services Care

disabledkenny

Hi, I have had a lot of problems with the Social Services Care Assessment Team, I have been waiting for an assessment to re-employ PAs for 3 years been using care agencies as my 2 PAs either left or had to leave through

their health problems struggled to re-employ new PA's. I was told in December 2024 that if I want to start employing PAs again I now need to be re-assessed but still waiting I chassed up in January & beginning of January & February but still waiting.

I have also been struggling for the past 4 years to get a physical financial assessment they have just guessed a financial assessment so they expect me to pay £370.53 a month towards the 24.5 hours a week that I receive, they send me bills every month of £370.52 then a week later a follow-up letter saying I have not yet paid, this is twice a month every month they are harassing me giving me stress which causes depression, yet they still refuse to re-assess me financially as they recon the only expense I have is united utility bills totaling to £10 a week for water as if that is all a pay I wish! I also have to pay £70 a week for a carer to go shopping with me twice a week as well as a deep clean of my bungalow as they will not include this in my care package.

I have requested several times to contact the Social Services Client Finance Team via telephone, email & letter I have requested that they get the Voice Ability Care Act Advocacy Support Service to support me but they have not as you cannot refer yourself to get help & support from them.

Has anyone else had similar problems if so how have you managed to get help or are you still having these problems, also any information or suggestions to help me with the above situations that I am having with Social Services I would appreciate it very much.

disabledkenny

I finally got to see someone from CAB yesterday & they have referred me to the Voice Ability Care Act Advocacy Support Service so I now wait & see if they contact me to help me get a proper financial assessment towards the payment of my care package.

I also still waiting for social services to re-employ 2 PAs instead of using a care agency.

surfygoose

I hope you get your financial assessment and also your new PAs. Everything is always so slow isn’t it. Whenever it’s to do with care or funding it always takes such a frustratingly long time.

disabledkenny

Hi surfygoose, I agree they do take the time, plus why not assess people properly rather than just trying to guess what the client spends as they recon the only expenditure that I have is water at £10 a week, I wish that is all I have to spend each week, plus no mention of the £70 a week I send on a private carer to go with me shopping twice a week & do a deep clean of my bungalow.

Holly_Scope

Hi @disabledkenny Thanks for sharing this and updating us on how things are going. It sounds like you've had a horrendous time trying to get this sorted. Fingers crossed you hear back from the Voice Ability Care Act Advocacy Support Service soon!

disabledkenny

The Voice Ability has emailed me asking me for some personal information saying that they could help & support me, so I now waiting for their response to the email I sent them.

My main concern is when I finally get a new assessment for employing 2 new PAs instead of a care agency & a financial assessment will they be able to send someone to be with me at my home if not who could I get as have no friends or family that could be here in person while they are assessing me, anyone has any suggestions about possible charities that might help me with this I am aged 58 so would Age UK help do you think?