care assessments, capacity assessments, LPAs and Deputyships - state bureaucracy

[Shedman1]

I find it amazing but disappointing to read all the posts on here where parents, siblings etc are being denied the right to take an active involvement in the care of their loved ones. The assumption seems to be the state knows best.

I fully appreciate the need for safeguards to avoid abuse but at the moment the starting point seems to be the state before the family. Now that the prime minister has announced plans for greater use of AI and a review of bureaucracy, is this a chance for us to push for reforms eg family led assessments and AI rather than social care assessments by someone/set of people who barely know the individual? An alternative to LPAs or deputyships as LPAs seem designed with dementia in mind and deputyships for people with absolutely no capacity?

I’m not sure how to go about this but would start with MPs/Mencap.

I just wonder what others think?

[Gallivanter25]

I think the current system definitely supports state before families and it is in my view absolutely horrific. It lets local authorities get away with providing appalling supported living packages by using poor care providers and unskilled staff. When faced criticisms or concerns, they justify any decision by using the ' best interests' principle. They completely take over the lives of disabled adults and do their utmost to keep or push families out. Reforms are urgently needed to curtail the involvement of Social services and local authorities.

[49Twister in reply to Gallivanter25]

Absolutely agree with every word you have said. Even when I made an official complaint to Adult Social Services regarding the care provider I was informed it would be dealt with by an operations manager of the company. I said are you serious as they all lie to cover their tracks, which is what happened, so consequently I had wasted all that time compiling the complaint to no avail. They are all in cohoots together.

[Gallivanter25 in reply to 49Twister]

You've taken the words right out of my mouth. My mother's been complaining about my brothers current supported living package for over 5 years only to have her concerns fall on deaf ears. The local authority do everything they can to ' cover' for the care provider, their safeguarding department is quite frankly useless and that's putting it politely. You're right they really are in cahoots together and things need to change urgently because the current system is simply appalling and service users and their families are made to suffer.

[Michele1965 in reply to Gallivanter25]

I totally agree. I also cannot believe that with all the evidence to the contrary re abysmal best interest decisions made by the system that it is so unquestioned by a more accepting society.

[Gallivanter25 in reply to Michele1965]

I know. The level of corruption is so blatant yet not challenged.

[Hope2222]

Hellp Mencap, Are you listening to this. Please respond to let us know.

[Steve__]

Agreed. Deputyship used to be much easier to obtain... It was recently changed to make it harder. They could just as easily change it back.

At a time when the govt depts, services and councils are being run down and underfunded as we speak (despite bigger workloads), it's a nonsense to expect them to do things better than a dedicated family. This is especially obvious when the official action taken can be nothing at all for worrying amounts of time. That's sometimes understandable given their underfunding and pressures, but if there's a good family begging to take good action on befalf of SS for free, everyone wins.

[S3w3ng39]

I totally agree with all the above comments.👍

[Mybestfriends]

I agree with all the above comments.

[Bluey203]

Totally agree with all comments here.There have been similar discussions before, such as in the link a year ago -

healthunlocked.com/mencap/p...

Frustratingly Mencap don't get involved, they just give support for people to campaign themselves in their local area.

It is ludicrous that 'strangers' are considered to have better understanding of our loved ones than parents or siblings and just override decisions.

I think we should automatically be given POA or Deputyship when they reach 18, (or maybe a new authority 'POLK' Power Of Lifetime Knowledge 😉) Which should only be removed if shown unsuitable through neglect and lack of care.

[Gallivanter25 in reply to Bluey203]

Couldn't agree with you more.

[Michele1965]

In Northern Ireland there STILL is no mechanism to allow parents/ family to apply for Deputyship for Health and Welfare!!

[Chocolate-heals-all in reply to Michele1965]

Hi Michele that is appalling!

[Gallivanter25 in reply to Michele1965]

I find that really shocking and quite frankly terrifying.

[Shedman1]

My thanks to everyone for your responses. I think this shows we are not alone and the current arrangements can be improved to save families from all this heartache and the state from all this waste. It does feel that now is the time to present alternative arrangements to the government given that they have recognised institutions such as nhs England are overly bureaucratic and taking funding away from front line services.

My plan is to contact Mencap formally to ask if they will facilitate a meeting with the ministers responsible for social services and OPG/cop where we can share our stories and see if the current arrangements can be reformed. If Mencap declines I am happy to approach the ministers directly. I hope you will support this plan and be happy to share your stories.

[Gallivanter25 in reply to Shedman1]

I completely agree with you, things need to change. I'm in awe of you and definitely support your plans. I've been thinking about emailing Wes Streeting although my previous attempts to get the support of two Labour MP's fell short of expectations. I wish you every luck and do keep us updated.