Hi all
For those who have been successful in CHC and handed over all their info to the assessors. How did you word your responses to the different domains?
I.e. did you explain how you manage the need to answer with no care in place etc.
I've followed all the help and advice in past meetings from Beacon and care to be different but not been successful. Was wondering if I maybe wasn't phrasing it correctly.
Hi Spiralsparkle
So sorry you weren't successful. (*Rude word here*) 
It is their job to gather evidence from all of the agencies involved. If you gave it to them no problem.
As for the DST - again it is for them to gather evidence and to do an interview, not just tke your 'DST' and run.
Did they do an interview. Did you discuss scoring?
I didn't give them my copy, but used it as notes to talk from. As we worked through it I asked them what score they were giving on each domain and if I differed I argued using the DST guidance. If we could not agree I asked them to record my disagreement for that domain. Which is what they should do anyway.
It shouldn't come down to the wording you chose.
Next step, if you want, is to write and appeal saying that you will give your evidence for the appeal later, that that you want a copy of their DST and any reports that they submitted to the Funding Panel. Writing that letter now stops the clock on you timing out for being able to get an appeal. With the paperwork you will be able to see what they have done.
The part about the report is to see what they have said about severity, complexity and rate of deterioration. That is an overarching decision that they make. (Sorry not quite exact wording I am doing a quick reply without notes)
Was a social worker present. Legally there should have been one there (otherwise the DST is unlawful) However sometimes they do a separate interview. Did any of that take place?
I would write to social services and ask for a copy of the social workers report. Specifically pertaining to their decision as to whether or not the care fell within the social services 'legal limit'. That is the key decision that they make. If they said it was within their legal limit then CHC might just have walked away. That decision can be challenged with social services. You can ask them to send and assessor to do another interview about the legal limit. If you can persuade them that the care is outwith their legal jurisdiction then the care is automatically booted back to CHC. The legal limit is the dividing line between Soc. Serv. and CCG/NHS.
I do hope there is something useful here for you.
So, so cross (being polite again) about this.
Just a word of caution, we never had a social worker present at any DST meeting or appeal meeting (although there was a council social services representative on the funding panel - that we never met and who had never met P) and when I queried this at the appeal I was told `it was noted and would be taken into consideration in future`. It will be forming part of my appeal for the IRP however.
xx
Gosh NanBabs - Not to have at least a Social Services Assessment is totally unlawful.
How on earth the they think the issue of the legal limit was addressed?
Good luck, sounds like you are on a strong wicket.
xx
I do hope so Kevin, but after the experiences I`ve had, I`m taking nothing for granted. Incidentally, Beacon did not make a big thing of this, even though they came with me to the appeal in November.
xx
I agree with what Kevin has said. If you read the very lengthy Decision Support Tool for NHS Continuing Healthcare, it tells you what the professionals are looking for. I treated the assessment as an exam, doing plenty of revision reading the support tool and working out what I thought the scores should be and saying why if theirs differed for mine. The behaviour one went from N to severe when I pointed out all the times C put his life (and sometimes mine) at risk. I added how he had lost all inhibitions, exposing himself in public on the way to the toilet and many other behaviour issues. He was never aggressive hence the N score originally. Knowing what they are looking for will remind you how it really is. Looking after someone 24/7 I did tend to forget/ignore/ take for granted certain behaviour that should be taken into account.
Best wishes for a successful assessment.
XxxX
Hi Spiralsparkle
I am going to share my secret trick.... It makes me wince to say this.
Please, if anyone from my CCG is reading this - look away now.
Though it's not in the DST guidelines they are also (instinctively?) assessing you as a carer. Professionally they cannot leave a patient in a vulnerable situation. They are so aware of the risk of having to explain themselves in court, which happens a lot, more than you might think.
If you look exhausted and as if you might unravel then, I believe, they are more likely to grant CHC. I think being a man helps too... We are not expected to cope so well, but don't try a sex change just yet... Do the appeal first. 
I would be interested to know how many male carers have been turned down... I suspect far fewer that the female carers reading the posts.
I think we men are not as gifted in the care department...or expected to be so.
Despite my humour - I know how gutting and worrying not getting funding can be.
We're all here for you.
Best to you both
Kevin
P.S. So it helps to lay it on thick how much you are struggling.
What an interesting survey that would be Kevin! (Gender distinction in acceptance statistics)
Talk about rewarding dysfunction (even if subconsciously)
Anne G
Wouldn't it!
Chuckles - would it be un PC to say that women have been rewarding and punishing men for their dysfunctional side since we all began?
(and the other way around - but don't go there!)
We mortal things!
Ha ha!. Too true ;-). That would be extra funny if all the CHC Assessors were women??!
