Hi, my name is MrsTibtabs! I have a cousin who has Cerebral Palsy

MrsTibtabs
MrsTibtabs Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
edited June 2021 in Cerebral Palsy Network
I have a cousin who has cerebral palsy who lives in Basingstoke and needs support with the care package provided by the local social services who are not only very hard to contact but don't seem to care much when you manage to get through.  He lives independently with support but the last two companies who have provided his care have made him uncomfortable with their presence and, frankly, intimidated in his own home.  Would some sort of sheltered accommodation be a solution and, if so, do such places exist near where he lives?

Comments

  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    edited June 2021
    Hello @MrsTibtabs

    Welcome to the community, thanks for joining. I hope you are well this morning. 

    Sorry to hear that your cousin is finding things difficult at the minute, the situation with social services sounds really inconvenient and nobody should ever be made to feel uncomfortable in their own home. If you want to make a complaint about your experience with them, you can find details on how to go  about doing that here.

    Regarding the sheltered accommodation, I'm not sure how viable that is as an option because I don't know your cousin's circumstances or the area he is in, but you can find details here from the NHS about housing options for disabled people,  and furthermore this Scope page about finding accessible housing may come in use.
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Online Community Member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    Hi and welcome to the community 

    Supported housing does exist but I think you would need to go through social services 

    Unless you look for private companies but there will be a large cost I would think 

    Has he had a care needs assessment at all if not he can self refer on gov website 
    His needs will be assessed and recommendations made 

    You might also get some advice from his gp
  • MrsTibtabs
    MrsTibtabs Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
    He has been told this morning by social services that his needs are not such that he would be considered for any sort of residential care!  This is someone who cannot even get out of bed without support.  I do not know when his needs were last assessed  -  I just feel SO angry on his behalf.  What government website do I go to for his needs to be assessed?  That would be very helpful. Thank you
  • MrsTibtabs
    MrsTibtabs Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
    My cousin lives in Basingstoke  -  unfortunately I live some distance away in Hull so am not really on hand to help much in person
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,793 Cerebral Palsy Network
    Hi @MrsTibtabs
    I'm sorry to read that your cousin is experiencing such a difficult time at the moment. The first port of call for a needs assessment should be: 

    Adult Services

    The Adult Services team at Hampshire County Council provides advice, care and support for adults.

    Call 0300 5551386 or 0300 555 1373 (out of hours) or email adult.services@hants.gov.uk.

  • MrsTibtabs
    MrsTibtabs Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
    They told him this morning that his needs were such that he did not need any sort of residential care.  I have no idea when his needs were last assessed but I have my doubts that they plan to carry out any sort of assessment.  If you call that number it takes over an hour to get through  -  he tried it yesterday.  I do not know where to turn to help him but he is getting very upset, depressed and worried about his situation.
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,793 Cerebral Palsy Network
    edited June 2021
    He or you need to make contact with them again and request the needs assessment. Has he told them about the incidences that make him feel neglected and unsafe in his home? It is tiring and very frustrating dealing with these departments but you must persevere. 
    You can contact them directly on your cousin's behalf here:
    Contact Adults' Health and Care | Health and social care | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
    You will need their Adult Services (AS) reference number.
  • MrsTibtabs
    MrsTibtabs Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
    I will try ringing them but the response is always that they will not deal with me, only with him! I imagine he has tried to tell them but his speech isn't always clear and it takes an effort sometimes to make sense of what he is saying. They find it very easy to dismiss him.  I am chasing up his OT, who is very good about these things, and have written to his GP as well.  I am just so angry that he is being treated so shamefully.
  • Richard_Scope
    Richard_Scope Posts: 3,793 Cerebral Palsy Network
    Please keep me updated. This is not a rare situation, sadly.
  • MrsTibtabs
    MrsTibtabs Online Community Member Posts: 6 Listener
    Thank you.  It is completely disgraceful and I am so angry but not surprised  -  for many years I taught children with physical disabilities, frequently CP, and I felt then that the situation for them and their families was difficult.  After a decade or more of Tory cuts and profligate spending it is much harder.

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