ok so we eventually got an initial assesment from social services after 9 weeks, many phone calls and them saying they would call back! i think the assesment happend when i phoned 5 times in a day and told them i was packing him an overnight bag and if they didnt phone back within the hour i would be droping him at there office and then they could tell me i dont need help, as you can probably tell i was having a really bad day, i had been called into the office at playschool (by the head) who had told me they wanted to reduce the hours he was there at playscheme because he was biting his one to one, this is the only help i was reciving through the holidays 3 hours 2 days a week (for 4 weeks) so it was decided that he could stay the full 3 hours, i dont think these people realise he is like this at home 2 and bites his 20 month old brother 2/3 times a day! so the fist phone call to social service was 2 let them know that if they cant cope with him at playschool with a one to one how was i supost to manage at home with his brother on my own??

anyway after the inital assesment (and matthew biting the social worker) they said that we meet there criteria and will go on a WAITING LIST for a core assesment arrrrrggggghhhhhhhh not more lists i was then inormed that the list was fairly long but the assesment should happen by the end of the year.........so now we wait its been 2 weeks and no word yet maybe i should start packing his bag again lol!

RANT OVER!
hope everyone is well
Becca xxx

---

life is to short to worry about the future, what will be will be

hi , been there! at least you have started the process and it maybe a long one? i have just got the remaining parts of my package of care put into place after a wait of 11 months!! a family support worker was in place straight away, day care was a further couple of months and night support is happening this weekend. have you got anyone to support you with your ask? for help my physio and ot backed me up. also this was not the first time i asked for help i had been refused first time 6 months before when i was told Alex was a well dressed easy to manage young man, had they helped me initially ( before i had to threaten to swing myself from the tree across the road!) the package of care would not have been so big, the strain less and recovery would have been a lot quicker but what do we know? not meant to put you off!

this is the first time i have asked for help i have always "managed" i have just been diagnosed with depression and am really strugling i have a very suportive husband who is my best friend. i have had supporting letters from peadiatrition, school deputy head, learning disabilitys team, homestart and o/t. but still have to wait.....at least we got our initial assesment! where are you from?? im in hampshire. x good luck wih the weekend x

hi iam from Bury lancs, thats the thing i was managing? automatic pilot just got on with it. i felt like a failure when they refused me first time like i had asked for something i obviously did not deserve. i had reached rock bottom when they finally stepped in, but i can see the light and things have got to get better. i also suffer from depression its more common than you think. i will let you know about my nights it will seem strange having someone downstairs with my son but iam willing to try anything for a good nights sleep.

Go and sit in their office and speak to a manager tell them it is an emergency and that they CAN make direct payments available to you for respite ASAP. they have a duty to help you . tell them your not leaving until you have a date for the core assessment. they are disgracefull leaving you that long! we waited around 11 weeks and it was only after my partner daniel phoned every minute (literally) for an hour that they go so sick of us they agreed to speak to us, then we went down their offices and spoke to the manager. we had our assessment within a week that was about 4 weeks ago and we have just been awarded direct payments for respite care....we're just trying to work out now how we're going to use it!

deffinatly push them, dont just sit back and wait!!

xx