- Get the phone number of your local Social Work Office from the phone book, the library, or the Citizen's Advice Bureau. Write the number here: .......................
- Contact the Social Work Department; explain that you are having difficulties and ask to see a social worker. Someone else could phone for you.
- A meeting will be arranged. Arrange this for your best time, if possible, and state a time limit for the meeting if necessary.
- Prepare for the meeting by listing the thing you struggle with.
You can download and use my form - http://tinyurl.com/hms9s -. If possible, make an extra copy of the form for anyone coming to assess you.
During the visit by the social worker
- Show your list to your social worker.
- Ask for an assessment of your care needs.
- Ask to see an Occupational Therapist.
- Ask what other help they can offer.
- Ask them to write things down for you so you won't forget.
- If you have a spare copy of the list, then you can give it to the Social Worker. If not, explain that it's your only copy, and that you'd prefer to keep it.
During any meetings to assess your needs:
- Have a friend present to give support and hopefully do some of the talking.
- Show your list to the person who is assessing you.
- Stress that you cannot cope with a lot of different people.
- Stress problems weight bearing, toileting; intimate personal care etc...
- Stress that you need consistent care from experienced staff.
- Stress the need for gentle, quiet, kind people.
- Ensure that the carers are suitably trained for your level of disability, and can help you with going to the toilet and personal care, if mecessary.
- Ask for a list of anything the care staff aren't allowed to do.
- Ask for a care meeting the following month to review matters.
- If you are not happy with what they offer, you can accept what they have offered on a temporary/trial basis, or refuse what they have offered if you feel it would be detrimental to your well-being.. You can contact them again later if you change your mind, or if you get worse.
- If things go badly, just end the meeting. You can ask for a different social worker if necessary.
Remember that there are alternatives if the situation doesn't feel right - it's just the first step in a journey...
Good luck!