to expect childs SW to have ......

It beggars belief! Of course your DD doesn't want her son put in care for three weeks. That is far from what she was asking for! And to have no more medical knowledge than that! #despair

I would email her and tell her what I think of her. Or her superior!

That is horrifying!

In my social work training, I don't remember any modules about surgery or medicine, but it focused on mental health, substance abuse and child development when we did touch on medical issues. However, social workers are hopefully knowledgeable and interested enough to find out about issues affecting the families they are working with. Perhaps she'll have boned up on her gap in understanding by the next time you see her, nina.

How did the SW come to use the word 'martyr?'

I would make a formal complaint. No question.

when she said DD was a martyr because she was refusing the 3wks care. Apparently DD likes the idea of people feeling sorry for her !!!!

DD has already reported one SW as the report she filed in GSs name was about another child The supervisor then came and filed a new report. She appointed this 'chocolate fireguard' as the replacement

nina your daughter has been very unlucky with the social workers she has encountered. I can understand that she may not want to make a second complaint, but it might be worth her contacting the supervisor/ manager and requesting a face to face discussion about the recent contact. There is no excuse for a social worker showing such a lack of respect to both your grandchild (that trach thing ) or to your DD (martyr! ).

If she was inexperienced she should have had the good grace to admit it and ask your DD to explain the medical terms (though where on earth has she been if she has never even heard of a tracheotomy). This was shockingly rude and arrogant practice.

Oh dear ninathena, how very unpleasant, and unprofessional. What nonsense to offer foster care as an alternative to a day a week respite. I would have hoped that a social worker appointed to support a child who has experienced the medical difficulties you mentioned, would have had the necessary experience and expertise. If not, that they'd have taken the trouble to research properly before visiting. Ideally, the issues raised during this visit need to be discussed calmly, to see whether its possible to begin to build a trusting, honest and supportive relationship. Do you think the supervisor would be helpful in facilitating this?

Is she actually a Social worker? That is really ignorant. I don't remember any particular health modules apart from some very good Mental Health stuff. I just picked up a heck of lot of such information in the course of working with people of all ages. It was an important part of the job to have that knowledge.

*Ninathenana" are there any Children's respite "hospices" etc in your GS's area? This is what happens when governments cut social care budgets to the bone.

When I trained as a SW I was able to opt for the medical social work course in my post-grad course, and I then went on to work in mainly medical settings or with people with medical problems (stroke, brain injury and other trauma). Unfortunately I do not think this is available to SW students any more.

It is however important that a SW should gather all the necessary information about the families they are visiting to make sure they provide a proper assessment and offer appropriate care. It does not sound as though the SW has done this and she does sound a bit offhand and insensitive.

There is a world of a difference to a Mum between a day a month of respite and 3 whole weeks of upheaval for a child to go into a care facility. The two are not sensible alternatives and should not be offered as such. I do think that you or your DD should take this further if only to spare other people this insensitivity. Ask to speak to her team manager; say you do not want to make a complaint but that you would like to see things done properly and sensitively and feel that this particular SW is not right for your needs. You do not have to have someone that you do not get along with - it simply defeats the object of her involvement.

It works both ways - a SW can request that he/she is not allocated a particular case if she feels that things are not working out or if she has some personal reason for finding the situation uncomfortable. The whole point is to establish a good working relationship; and just because your DD is in need of help, it does not mean she is powerless.

Good advice that I can't add to, nina. The social workers all agree that encounter was somewhat lacking and the team manager should listen to your concerns. Good luck.

It does sound awful. Were you able to support your DD at the meeting nina? It sound as if it would be good to have someone else with her. The SW appears to have been quite ignorant of common knowledge as well as unprofessional and that would have made you DD upset. I do hope there is a positive resolution soon and your DD gets the support she needs quickly.

It sounds like being at the consultants to hear about a medical diagnosis. Always good to have someone else there to gather the information you are too overwhelmed by and to ask the questions you forget to ask.

Where does nina say that 'the social workers all agree etc.' when?

nina didn't say it, ana

Oh. I see.

Thanks for all the good advice. DD will be reassured that those 'in the know' agree that this was wrong. I have attended various meetings with her but unfortunately not this one.

Nellie Demelza House hospice is 20mins away and is a lovely place, but are they not just for the terminally ill ?

Nina It was organisations like this I was thinking of. Basically they offer support for the families of children with complicated health issues to give them some chance of a break from the constant stresses of caring for a child needing specialist health care.

Some of these might cross over with the children's hospice movement.

http://childrensrespitetrust.org.uk/pages/help-for-families.php

I hope they find some help.

Link blued this time

Nina It was organisations like this I was thinking of. Basically they offer support for the families of children with complicated health issues to give them some chance of a break from the constant stresses of caring for a child needing specialist health care.

Some of these might cross over with the children's hospice movement.

childrensrespitetrust.org.uk/pages/help-for-families.php

I hope they find some help.

Nellie thank you for that. I have had a quick look and will forward the link to DD.