I was wondering what people's experience of social workers was. Please avoid posting inappropriate or abusive replies causing this thread to be locked or deleted.
My first experience of social workers was when my mother first nearly died of C-Diff and was then diagnosed with Parkinsons. The experience was pretty negative but I will be eternally grateful to mum's OT who went above and beyond. She even arranged "Meals on Wheels" so mum could return to her flat after two social workers argued as to who's responsibity it was.
After last year's unexpected BKA (below knee amputation) I obviously needed help to move forward. However before my rehab was complete the social worker had me shipped to a care home under the looming CovID crisis. I am still there ging ever more stir crazy. My social worker has changed four times and I am now back with the original one. None have done anything much to help me move forward. Allegedly I am a vulnerable adult but this seems irrelevant.
What are your experienced of these people?
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MichaelJH
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I was a social worker for over 30 years, the last 23 in a large teaching hospital, so I know something of the strength and weaknesses of myself and my colleagues. I loved my job but I think I was fortunate as much depends on the area and setting you work in, caseloads, etc, how you are treated by clients and other professionals, police, courts in some cases, statutory obligations especially in childcare. But happy to put myself on the line should it be desirable - see what if any response you get from others.
I am absolutely sure there are some really good social workers. Sadly in this area they have had a mainly poor reputation.
My advice, it’s the same as healthcare. Firstly, you have to fight to get someone to listen to you. Secondly, advocate for yourself by reading & researching your rights under the Care Act 2014. Thirdly, if your unhappy with any aspect of the service you have received use your LA’s complaints Procedure. It might be that the hold up is who is going to provide the funding necessary, either the LA or the NHS through continuous care. But like anything these days Michael….. he who shouts the loudest wins.
As with any group of people, some are excellent, some are dreadful, and most are in between. They may not strike up a good relationship with one person, but be perfect for another.I remember one my mother did not like, but who turned up at 6am to help me get her to a hospital appointment.
From your previous posts I take you to be an Articulate, Intelligent adult, all I can say is God Help the majority of people who can't articulate a difficulty with Social Care.
I would suggest you need to appoint someone to fight your corner who has knowledge of how the system works. You should be able to access Advocacy services as defined in the 2014 care act. The social worker should be able to help appoint someone or perhaps citizens advice.
My experience with social workers has been mainly negative. The only positive one was a social worker who filled out a claims form for my elderly mother and “knew” all the stuff she could claim for. It turned out she’d got that wrong though because when my mother died she’d been claming stuff she wasn’t entitled to so the DSS wanted a load of money back from her estate I think they may start their jobs with the best of intentions but a broken system grinds them down.
I always find it amazing that people seem have difficulty claiming what they are entitled to whilst other incorrect claims go through. The local council were very aggressive with claiming back a friend's overpaid rent and council tax rebates despite them being equally to blame!
Only have experience of social services for learning disability in my local authority - and they are dreadful, I'm sorry to say. Some very nice people, well meaning and with good ideas - problem often is the funding 'panel' who are less than helpful. You clearly need an advocate - and I would suggest you contact Age UK and also local Healthwatch (who can signpost you to correct source of help). Being a vulnerable adult should be no barrier to living independently - indeed I would have thought that social services would be all too happy to have you move forward to a less expensive alternative , but, as always, access to correct care might be more difficult. Age UK should be a good source of information - good luck.
Most of my friends who became Social Workers did it because they had a very strong desire to help people. Almost without exception they became jaded/burnt out and left, ground down by the systems they had to work in, and often unable to give the help people needed.
Hello
Only once got involved with a Social worker and never again
They did nothing except nearly lost me a new build house with interfering
For me personally I would avoid them at all costs but that is just my own opinion others may have had better experiences x
Hi Michael, it is difficult to know what you are trying to achieve. I suspect you want to return home? This is independent living and is the ultimate (or should be) aim of social workers. They should be working together with the NHS to adapt your home so that you can return. Local Authorities have a disability adaptation service which can undertake adaptations, including fitting lifts, downstairs bathrooms, and the like. The sad fact being lack of funding. This has made it more difficult to fit the criteria for an adaptation.
My suggestion would be to find out if you are still under hospital care, in which case the NHS are responsible for the cost of your care (are they paying for the care home), or more than likely they have bamboozled you into the care of the local authority. If the former, talk to PALS about getting you home, if the latter, CAB and/or an advocacy service (these are local authority funded too) their role is to try to ensure that your rights are upheld. At the end of the day, unless you are sectioned under the mental health act, you are supposed to be in control of your own destiny. Unfortunately, your social worker may not understand this concept. As others have said, they are often burnt out, struggling with differing priorities, and short funded. I'm sure they are not obstructive just because they can be. Finally, you cannot sue a social worker (what's that all about). Good luck!!
I was wondering if you'd seen an OT at the hospital as they are often very good and with any luck can liaise with the local authority better than we can, but just persist using every person of any influence you can.
Some very good points here, Michael, but unfortunately will all need effort on your part but important to get that started. I thought Woodsie's reply and ideas were very worth pursuing. And if you get nowhere, though I think CAB should be helpful, use your MP too. When I started off in the 70s child care, mental health and "welfare" (elderly mainly and sick/handicapped people) were separate, before they became social services and in many ways the service was better - now they concentrate on statutory work, because they have to and of course that is important, but doesn't allow for what I call caring and too many people get the crumbs that are left
I would never have said you were vulnerable, not in your head. Are you running the place yet? Social workers are the bane of my life when it comes to my mum and dad's health care. Regards Sheena x
Hi Michael, you may find now that ‘some sort of normality ‘ is beginning to return things may improve regarding getting you into your own home again. I think you said you had to give up your former home andyou obviously need somewhere that is either purpose built or adapted to your particular needs.
Before the pandemic struck an acquaintance had his 2nd BKA. He had been living in his own home with carers coming in prior to the surgery. He was moved out to a local hospital for rehab and needs assessment following the surgery and then the pandemic landed! He was moved out of hospital back to his home, with carers but was ‘stuck’ in one end of his house as he was awaiting an electric wheelchair and a hoist and a ramp or lift to be installed to allow access to the rest of the house! He was in this situation for over 12 months!
Although you are ‘stir crazy’ at present you will not be as ‘vulnerable ‘ where you are and your physical and care needs will be being met according to ‘the book, tick list or whatever they use!
Do you have any connections from your past that may help? We’re you ever in the armed forces or any other occupation where there are support services linked?
Keep pushing as the cogs can turn very slowly in our dinosaur organisations that are local authority care services. Would you consider a move to another area as the issue may be a lack of suitable housing in the areas you are looking.
Best wishes and I hope things resolve for you soon. Jane
Afraid I have found them very obstructive at times. Mother in law in her 90s had a fall; didn't break anything but stripped all the skin off her shin. They insisted on putting her into a care home just because she was 93 and incontinent, which we, equally vehemently insisted was wrong. We moved her in with us and within 3 weeks she was back in her own home. Husband's aunt with sever dementia, totally deaf and little sight was left alone at home with 10 minute pop in visits. Because at one point she thought she was being robbed, (common with dementia) they changed her locks and completely banned any family from seeing her. Her sister wasn't even told when she died. When we moved house I had a stair lift which was a perfect fit for our new house but they insisted there wasn't enough clearance at the bottom of the stairs and we'd have to have the stairs moved and brought almost into the middle of the room. In the end my perfectly good stair lift was just thrown away. I got Acorn out who found absolutely no problems but I had to pay for a new stair lift privately. They pushed me into finding my own carer which didn't work at all because of where we lived . When my husband retired and our income dropped by 2/3 I was told his pension was now unearned income and therefore I would have to start paying for carers. I still don't know if that was true but I lost my carers. I'm not saying all are bad but those I have dealt with were not good and took no account of my or the family's wishes. I had to fight and fight to get care for my dad when he was dying. I had a 3 year old child, disabled myself and just couldn't do it all on my own. Maybe it's just our area and the hoops they have to jump through, doing everything by the book and financial constraints
All I can say, Michael, is that in all my years as a Health Visitor I never met a Social Worker who was a normal person. That sounds awful, but it is true and that was in long ago days when they weren't as burnt out and overworked as they are said to be today.
Hi Michael, so sorry to read you are still going through all these impediments to your self sufficiency. I can't make a generalised comment on social workers - like all people we come into contact with there are good and bad. What I do think, however, is that the medical and care professions focus predominately on the perceived 'problem' and the actual person is forgotten. If only an assessment would look at all the factors involved in a patient's well being, life would be a lot better for most of us. Over the last year or so (and probably longer than that in reality) it has become ever more necessary to fight for our needs, but we often have to fight at a time we really can't, because we are poorly or depressed or whatever. My very best wishes to you and I do hope you will have the outcome you deserve. X
In my experience, the good ones are terribly over worked and don't last long. The bad ones work their way up.
Social services is a mess and yet another example of a broken system in our society.
I’m afraid you are right, it does feel broken. I would never put myself in their position, knowing I just didn’t have the will or resources behind me, to help my clients, who are enormously frustrated with me, because they are not getting what they really need.
Morning Michael,Just to put my two pennyworth in. As LBCdance says have you an OT. When John had his stroke it was his OT that was so helpful organising the local authority with aids for him, rails outside the house, and even a wet room.
Yes, excellent OT. She did a comprehensive report for the social worker that sat in their Inbox for six weeks! Only posting as Hungarian GP red flagged till 14:32!
I feel for Max! Two races ruined and probably further penalties down the line for using too many parts.
Also feel for Seb. They should take the points of the manufacturer's but not the drivers' championship. One calculation suggested it was worth 3s over the race distance!
Yeah I guess the Stewards follow the rules. But as a devout Hamilton supporter I feel for him especially as there are rumours that most of the other teams communicated during the formation lap, which is not allowed.Anyway it gave us an exciting race
When my mum had a major stroke I found the social workers not very good. We had my mums best interests in mind I felt it was such a fight to get anything sorted. So sorry you've had a bad time with them, it's hard enough for you x
I was replying Heythrop51 in another thread when it was, understandably, locked. Besides the reference to "social w*nk**s" another person suggested making voodoo dolls. I suggested this to an activity worker who felt quite a few residents would be quite keen but it was more than her job was worth!
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