Disability act

charlie79

Good evening , I have had depression for the last 5 years effecting my ability to do a routine or day to day tasks plus other mental issues for 5 years. I am on medication and under GP. If I was referred to mental health services as far as i am aware they have to make additional adaptions to any services I am referred to. Is this correct,
It takes me 2 weeks to do a task which may take a person 24 hrs to-do. due to my emotional effecting my physical. 
For example I have had unexplained weight loss of 4 stone with no physical explanation and no reason. They asked me to do a food chart (i am under short term cmht) but it has triggered a pre existing eating disorder. This eating disorder as not active at time of weight loss. But I am starting to get early signs now but its thoughts and not in practice, but stopped the food plan and liaising with my GP. 
If I am referred with any services are they required to make adaptions around any ones disabilities. 

Ross_Alumni

Hi @charlie79

Thanks for making this post, I hope you are having a nice morning.

In my experience most services will always try to make adjustments to accommodate any additional needs a person may have, though sometimes there are things that they will say they just can't do. Of course I'm not saying that will be the case for you, but if you have a conversation with them about what reasonable adjustments they could make then I'm sure they'll support you as much as possible to help you interact with their service and get the most out of it.

This page on the Citizens Advice website provides a summary about reasonable adjustments:

What’s meant by the duty to make reasonable adjustments?
The Equality Act 2010 says changes or adjustments should be made to ensure you can access the following things if you’re disabled:

• education

• employment - ask your employer for adjustments

• housing - ask for adjustments in your home

• goods and services like shops, banks, cinemas, hospitals, council offices, leisure centres

• associations and private clubs like the Scouts and Guides, private golf clubs and working men clubs.

Should you have to pay for the adjustments?
The Equality Act says you should never be asked to pay for the adjustments.
What’s meant by reasonable?
Adjustments only have to be made if it’s reasonable to do so. What's a reasonable thing to ask for depends on things like:

• your disability

• how practicable the changes are

• if the change you ask for would overcome the disadvantage you and other disabled people experience

• the size of the organisation

• how much money and resources are available

• the cost of making the changes

• if any changes have already been made.

racyguy

So pleased that you have it right - the DWP and the Pension Service in particular fail miserably in offering any adjustments involving benefits.

charlie79

No the problem is i a lot of services require you to do tasks within time limit. Mine may take a month and rapport has to be built up and slowly over time first. My emotional effects my physical and mental daily from moderate to exteme with a short space of time. I have been under cmht crisis prevention services which is supposed to be 12 weeks but has been over 4 months as they sending referrals and services are finding it hard to except me. As I need a one to one home visits and the same person due to severe trust issues and being housebound due to severe agoraphobia and ptsd. I don't even answer my door. Its really long but this is due to past events. I suffer from depression.. 
When the current cmht put me on a food diary due to unexplained weight loss. It triggered a previous eating disorder . I am in contact with my GP but cmht seem to be useless.
I have said i am ok with a financial assessment for any services or any deductions out of my benefits. I communicate through email with the aid of support i receive from my friend.
I have heard though that services have to tailor to a clients needs. 

Jo_2022

Good evening @charlie79! 😊 Thank you for bringing up this topic. Yes I agree with you, by law services have a duty to make reasonable adjustments to meet your needs. However, this sounds perfect in theory, what sometimes happens on a practical basis is not that straightforward or easy.