Re: Carers Assessment - Eva

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/08/2006 12:20:48 GMT Daylight Time, wembleytag@... writes:

Hello every one

can any one tell me what is the benifit of a carers assessment how would it benifit us?

>>>>>>>There might not be a benefit but I would do it anyways.

What is supposed to happen is you get assessed to see what help they can give YOU as a carer. If you are lucky that might inlcude a holdiay playshceme, shared acre worker, respite and or Direct Payments to employ your own respite people (I use it for SLT and many others do for topping up their ABA/Son Rise programmes in the holidays etc).

However what generally happens is they play down any need so they don;t have to give you the services.

Crying helps.................... points to bring up are protected time with your NT kids, your partner, holding the family together basically. A letter from your GP supporting might help too - based on sustaining your mental health and that of family unit. You have to play the game to get anything.

When I first asked for an assessment they told me there was 12 month waiting list - that is against the law - I complained and got it done in 6 weeks as it took me 4 years to find out I was even entitled to have a CA at all.........................

Good luck

Mandi in Poole

PS Are you claiming DLA? If not write again - thats a non means-tested benefit for the CHILD which if awarded gives you access to other benefits too

[Guest guest]

Hi Mandi Thanks for your reply I have care at home hours and have hours for respite care but for some unknown reason my son can not access the respite care there is always some excused why they can not have my son do you know if I was to have direct payment if I would get the respite care aswell or the rule is only the care at home hours we would be entitle to have for direct payment. also when ss does an assessment for the child are we entitly to a copy of the care plan. Sorry to a pest but I need info Ta Eva

Mum231ASD@... wrote: In a message dated 08/08/2006 12:20:48 GMT Daylight Time, wembleytag@... writes: Hello every one can any one tell me what is the benifit of a carers assessment how would it benifit us? >>>>>>>There might not be a benefit but I would do it anyways. What is supposed to happen is you get assessed to see what help they can give

YOU as a carer. If you are lucky that might inlcude a holdiay playshceme, shared acre worker, respite and or Direct Payments to employ your own respite people (I use it for SLT and many others do for topping up their ABA/Son Rise programmes in the holidays etc). However what generally happens is they play down any need so they don;t have to give you the services. Crying helps.................... points to bring up are protected time with your NT kids, your partner, holding the family together basically. A letter from your GP supporting might help too - based on sustaining your mental health and that of family unit. You have to play the game to get anything. When I first asked for an assessment they told me there was 12 month waiting list - that is against the law - I complained and got it done in 6 weeks as it took me 4 years to find out I was even

entitled to have a CA at all......................... Good luck Mandi in Poole PS Are you claiming DLA? If not write again - thats a non means-tested benefit for the CHILD which if awarded gives you access to other benefits too

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/08/2006 15:40:10 GMT Daylight Time, bbrowne123@... writes:

What exactly do they ask? Is the respite/direct payments means tested?

>>>No .................only by testing your resolve to get it

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/08/2006 18:17:28 GMT Daylight Time, jane_hogan@... writes:

Sorry, I don't know whether you would be entitled to both respite and direct payments - I would make that call and ask. You may find that you are entitled to more help.

>>There is a family in my area that do, they get 5 x what anybody else gets in Direct Payments and 48 hours once per month for weekend of respite and more on top of that for the second child.

In our area we don't get any float for advertising like Jane does (she is in Lancs, we are in Dorset) or any help with the PAYE BTW and different areas fund at different rates per hour - I think ours is really low (probably because of family mentioned above who have most of the budget) at £7.15 per hour. I pay what I feel is appropriate rate and adjust the hours. As Jane said - some organising to do when you start but works well when its sorted

Mandi x

[Guest guest]

I have often picked up the phone to call about the carer's

assessment but i feel worried about having snoopy social workers in

my house! There's always one!

What exactly do they ask? Is the respite/direct payments means

tested?

thanks

>

>

> In a message dated 08/08/2006 12:20:48 GMT Daylight Time,

> wembleytag@... writes:

>

> Hello every one

>

> can any one tell me what is the benifit of a carers assessment how

would it

> benifit us?

>

>

>

> >>>>>>>There might not be a benefit but I would do it anyways.

>

> What is supposed to happen is you get assessed to see what help

they can

> give YOU as a carer. If you are lucky that might inlcude a holdiay

playshceme,

> shared acre worker, respite and or Direct Payments to employ your

own respite

> people (I use it for SLT and many others do for topping up their

ABA/Son Rise

> programmes in the holidays etc).

>

> However what generally happens is they play down any need so they

don;t have

> to give you the services.

>

> Crying helps.................... points to bring up are protected

time with

> your NT kids, your partner, holding the family together basically.

A letter

> from your GP supporting might help too - based on sustaining your

mental health

> and that of family unit. You have to play the game to get

anything.

>

> When I first asked for an assessment they told me there was 12

month waiting

> list - that is against the law - I complained and got it done in 6

weeks as

> it took me 4 years to find out I was even entitled to have a CA

at

> all.........................

>

> Good luck

>

> Mandi in Poole

> PS Are you claiming DLA? If not write again - thats a non means-

tested

> benefit for the CHILD which if awarded gives you access to other

benefits too

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

Different areas have different rules about whether carers with children are entitled. Here in staffs carers are not yet entitled to direct payments in their own right in stoke they are but only carers of adults. you need to contact your social worker and ask for a carers assessment as they have a duty to give you one. there is talk of a direct payment which will be given to parents of children in their own right but I dont know of anywhere that is doing it. i can only speak for this area

mariella

[Guest guest]

Direct Payments is not means tested. I really wouldn't worry about having a social worker come around to carry out an assessment. As Mandi said you need to lay it on the line to them and tell them that you need to spend time with nt kids. We found that they really liked the fact that we wanted support for my son to go horse riding, wall climbing etc., We both work - so fitting all these activities in regularly for two kids would be hard. They included that in their assessment. We now get 6 hours direct payments which really does help. Even if you just need a night out or some quality time to yourself, DP's really help.

Jane

Re: Carers Assessment - Eva

I have often picked up the phone to call about the carer's assessment but i feel worried about having snoopy social workers in my house! There's always one!What exactly do they ask? Is the respite/direct payments means tested? thanks>> > In a message dated 08/08/2006 12:20:48 GMT Daylight Time, > wembleytag@... writes:> > Hello every one > > can any one tell me what is the benifit of a carers assessment how would it > benifit us?> > > > >>>>>>>There might not be a benefit but I would do it anyways.> > What is supposed to happen is you get assessed to see what help they can > give YOU as a carer. If you are lucky that might inlcude a holdiay playshceme, > shared acre worker, respite and or Direct Payments to employ your own respite > people (I use it for SLT and many others do for topping up their ABA/Son Rise > programmes in the holidays etc).> > However what generally happens is they play down any need so they don;t have > to give you the services. > > Crying helps.................... points to bring up are protected time with > your NT kids, your partner, holding the family together basically. A letter > from your GP supporting might help too - based on sustaining your mental health > and that of family unit. You have to play the game to get anything.> > When I first asked for an assessment they told me there was 12 month waiting > list - that is against the law - I complained and got it done in 6 weeks as > it took me 4 years to find out I was even entitled to have a CA at > all.........................> > Good luck> > Mandi in Poole> PS Are you claiming DLA? If not write again - thats a non means-tested > benefit for the CHILD which if awarded gives you access to other benefits too>

[Guest guest]

Hi Eva,

Not Mandi here - but I think it is more difficult to get respite than it is to get direct payments. I wouldn't want respite for my son - but I know in my area there is not a lot of respite care available. You would be given a copy of the assessment carried out by social services. We employ are own carers (who already work with my son as ABA therapists) they take him out to cinema, swimmings and lots of other activities - which gives us a chance to have some time to ourselves. If you get Direct Payments - you will have a choice of using an agency for carers or alternatively employing your own. Social Services will help you advertise for staff and will give you around £500 float to pay for insurance, adverts etc., You will actually be employing people that you chose to be carers and will be paying them for their services and social services will pay you directly. You will get help with sorting out paperwork and tax/ national insurance for them. It takes a little getting used to - but works well once you have a system going. Social Services will help to get you started.

Sorry, I don't know whether you would be entitled to both respite and direct payments - I would make that call and ask. You may find that you are entitled to more help.

Jane

Re: Carers Assessment - Eva

Hi Mandi

Thanks for your reply I have care at home hours and have hours for respite care but for some unknown reason my son can not access the respite care there is always some excused why they can not have my son do you know if I was to have direct payment if I would get the respite care aswell or the rule is only the care at home hours we would be entitle to have for direct payment. also when ss does an assessment for the child are we entitly to a copy of the care plan.

Sorry to a pest but I need info

Ta Eva

Mum231ASDaol wrote:

In a message dated 08/08/2006 12:20:48 GMT Daylight Time, wembleytag (DOT) co.uk writes:

Hello every one

can any one tell me what is the benifit of a carers assessment how would it benifit us?

>>>>>>>There might not be a benefit but I would do it anyways.

What is supposed to happen is you get assessed to see what help they can give YOU as a carer. If you are lucky that might inlcude a holdiay playshceme, shared acre worker, respite and or Direct Payments to employ your own respite people (I use it for SLT and many others do for topping up their ABA/Son Rise programmes in the holidays etc).

However what generally happens is they play down any need so they don;t have to give you the services.

Crying helps.................... points to bring up are protected time with your NT kids, your partner, holding the family together basically. A letter from your GP supporting might help too - based on sustaining your mental health and that of family unit. You have to play the game to get anything.

When I first asked for an assessment they told me there was 12 month waiting list - that is against the law - I complained and got it done in 6 weeks as it took me 4 years to find out I was even entitled to have a CA at all.........................

Good luck

Mandi in Poole

PS Are you claiming DLA? If not write again - thats a non means-tested benefit for the CHILD which if awarded gives you access to other benefits too

Copy addresses and emails from any email account to - quick, easy and free. Do it now...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/08/2006 21:00:14 GMT Daylight Time, mlmoult@... writes:

there is talk of a direct payment which will be given to parents of children in their own right but I dont know of anywhere that is doing it. i can only speak for this area

Hi Mariella

We now have direct payments for our kids in Aberdeenshire and believe me its pretty behind the times up here.I am doing a Masters (disablity stuff) Manchester Uni and if I remember rightly its illegal to NOT have a Direct Payment should they want and request it. Social Workers dont like them on the whole, toocomplex toset up and few understand them but I am pretty certain they cannot refuse themon this ground. Checkit out with ENABLE or the English Equivalent (Disability Rights Organisation, even MENCAP would know, someone correct me if I'm wrong...

JMHO

Caroline

xx

[Guest guest]

DIRECT PAYMENT

some advice for parents on DPs. It all depends on the assessment the social worker does for you.

They are only concerned with NEEDS... not wants! that is a very good tip. Some local authorities

have a strict criteria for any service - and some only work to the critical and substantial needs. The

best advice is not to ask for a direct payment, but to ask to be assessed for a service (DPs are a service)

SW get very upset sometimes if parents know there way around their system.

I worded on a DP project for the DH - re disabled children... So please feel free to contact me if anyone needs

any more help.

Re: Re: Carers Assessment - Eva

In a message dated 08/08/2006 21:00:14 GMT Daylight Time, mlmoultaol writes:

there is talk of a direct payment which will be given to parents of children in their own right but I dont know of anywhere that is doing it. i can only speak for this area

Hi Mariella

We now have direct payments for our kids in Aberdeenshire and believe me its pretty behind the times up here.I am doing a Masters (disablity stuff) Manchester Uni and if I remember rightly its illegal to NOT have a Direct Payment should they want and request it. Social Workers dont like them on the whole, toocomplex toset up and few understand them but I am pretty certain they cannot refuse themon this ground. Checkit out with ENABLE or the English Equivalent (Disability Rights Organisation, even MENCAP would know, someone correct me if I'm wrong...

JMHO

Caroline

xx

[Guest guest]

Hi Eva (by the way I think I know you - I think we spoke on the phone

about son-rise)

Anyway we get direct payments for Joe, but social services didn't want

us to have it, they offered respite instead. A good tip I was given is

to find out what they are prepared to offer then ask for it in direct

payments, this is your right, though they might not tell you that. In

our case I went to a meeting with the social services manager and was

able to show beyond doubt that respite away from home would not help

Joe but direct payments enabling him to be cared for at home in his

son rise playroom would. I got the hours for him though, not as

respite for me, and principally so that he wouldn't have to come on

the school run with me when I take his brother.

I have asked about a further assessment for me but have been fobbed

off so far. As it happens we get 6 hrs a week for Joe, and the rate is

high, £10.45 p.h., so I am pleased with what we got.

HTH

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 09/08/2006 09:04:51 GMT Daylight Time, sandrabarrett@... writes:

I worded on a DP project for the DH - re disabled children... So please feel free to contact me if anyone needs

>>>I'd love a copy

Mandi x