[Special.L]

My partners care co-ordinator has put me in for a carers assessment but am actualy curious what does this entail? is it a stressful thing to do as am fed up of having to explain to professionals over and over about our situation and to be honest it kills me because they only ever want to know the bad bits and never the good (not that there is much good bits at the moment) but it just points out how bad things are which i've got to admit i like to try to put it all to the back of my mind anyways before i ramble on i best finish it here but thank you in advance

[Tincan]

i have never heard of a carers assessment ! its not easy to care for sum1 with an illess of this nature i no how traumatic it can be not only for the sufferer but the person who cares for them . carers are the hidden heroes looking after millions of vulnerable people today they save the gov millions and deserve more support in the work they do ! i think u should remind the professionals of the gd vocational work your doing and overstate it dont be afraid to constructively use ur voice if u feel they are not being fair !

[mld]

Every year at my CPA review, my husband gets told that he is entitled to a carers assessment. However, in the next breath they also say that if he had one and needs were identified there are no resources to meet those needs. The only thing there is is our rethink carers group, which he now attends.

I hope that if you get a carers assessment, which I understand takes a couple of hours, there are resources in your area to meet any needs that you may have.

M.

[Tincan]

mld, on 26 February 2012 - 02:54 PM, said:

Every year at my CPA review, my husband gets told that he is entitled to a carers assessment. However, in the next breath they also say that if he had one and needs were identified there are no resources to meet those needs. The only thing there is is our rethink carers group, which he now attends.

I hope that if you get a carers assessment, which I understand takes a couple of hours, there are resources in your area to meet any needs that you may have.

M.

have u heard of MH charities like STONHAM & richmond fellowship im a member ov both and wat grt organisations they are . they av internet sites check them out! every1 as a pot ov money to their name thats personalized to them the gov says ...before they wud allocate that money to attend day centers they took that away to personalize the service ...the money is there . personalization direct payments are assessed on need and want u may want it but do u need it and they make every excuse y u dont need it . u need a gd care co ordinator to support u and pitch it in a way for u to get this service and of course 1 that want to walk the extra mile to fill out forms ! the form to get a direct payment is not directed at ppl with MH issues more learning disabilities u av to fill it in like u av nothing services wise and on ur worst possible day . it very tiring and irrelevant the form . ppl with health issues dont want to fill it in to be honest too stressful ! there isnt much money there thats y personalisation is a gd idea but lets us down and leaves us without services theory and practicality are two separate things but gd advertisement for the gov !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mabel]

Special.L, on 24 February 2012 - 01:31 PM, said:

My partners care co-ordinator has put me in for a carers assessment but am actualy curious what does this entail? is it a stressful thing to do as am fed up of having to explain to professionals over and over about our situation and to be honest it kills me because they only ever want to know the bad bits and never the good (not that there is much good bits at the moment) but it just points out how bad things are which i've got to admit i like to try to put it all to the back of my mind anyways before i ramble on i best finish it here but thank you in advance

Hello

I had one of these when my son was sectioned and it was strange reading what the person writing it had put. It was like she was talking about another being, she got so much wrong! So next time one was offered I said no thanks. You are supposed to be offered a carers' assessment but you don't have to have it. Just say no thanks. Like you I feel they are a waste of paper and time when what you really need is your ill relative TO BE WELL ! x

[CeeBee]

I would try to view it as a positive thing. The worst case scenario is that you get no benefit from it, in which case you haven't really lost anything. But there is the possibility that you do manage to access some help from it so it is worth pursuing.

In many ways you are flying blind as you do not know how much money is available in your area, who you are competing against, what sort of support they typically fund etc. and your chances will probably also depend to some extent on the care co-ordinator and other individuals involved.

I would suggest putting in some preparation beforehand (I haven't been online for a while so hope it hasn't been and gone already). It is probably worth thinking about what you find particularly difficult about your caring role (as one of your children has special needs you could possibly include both roles, I'm not sure), what effect it is having on your health (mental and physical), how it is affecting your family relationships, what sorts of things would help you and how they would help (i.e. improvement in your health, enable you to continue caring, keep the family together etc.). Basically, if you can help them to build a case that the cost of any extra help is going to be offset by savings in terms of keeping you "in post", reducing you and your family's burden on services in the long term you'll have a better chance of acessing any funding that's available.

I know it can feel depressing going over the more negative aspects of life, especially when you are already at a low ebb - unfortunately this is just the way the system works. The fact you love your family and do everything you do willingly day in day out without complaint and, frankly, probably deserve a medal, is irrelevant for most of these forms and assessments.

In thinking about what sort of help would be useful to you it might be worth trying to find out what other people in your area have got and if there are any local charities or organisations providing the services you are interested in (especially if they have contracts to supply to the council). I have heard of someone local to where I live getting a few hours babysitting a week paid for by Direct Payments, which would maybe enable you to attend a support group or do something else for your mental health.

Nothing is guaranteed, but the very best of luck with your assessment

[melody]

Special.L, on 24 February 2012 - 01:31 PM, said:

My partners care co-ordinator has put me in for a carers assessment but am actualy curious what does this entail? is it a stressful thing to do as am fed up of having to explain to professionals over and over about our situation and to be honest it kills me because they only ever want to know the bad bits and never the good (not that there is much good bits at the moment) but it just points out how bad things are which i've got to admit i like to try to put it all to the back of my mind anyways before i ramble on i best finish it here but thank you in advance

I acted as unpaid care co-ordinator for my brother, stepping in basically, to do the work of the mental health team, who kept failing him. It turned into a full time job and the stress put on me was immense. All I wanted them to do was care for my brother, but he was neglected, leaving me to worry and do it all. So when I reached screaming pitch, they appointed me a social worker, to give me a carer's assessment. All that invovled was a brief chat and then help with filling in a lengthy form. They gave me promises of how much I might get and I thought at least that would help in some way, as I don't work. I was turned down flat - apparently my brother, although severely mentally disabled with paranoid schizophrenia...isn't on the correct level of benefit for me to qualify, despite all I did for him - they didn't take that into account. They haven't yet assessed him to see if he is on the right level anyway! Talk about build you up and then let you down... the people in the system don't know the system. It was all a waste of time in the end.
My advice would be to grab as much help and advice as possible try not to let it stress you out too much.(easier said than done, I know)
This might help too.
http://www.nhs.uk/Ca...ssessments.aspx
Wishing you all the best

[Special.L]

tincan, on 24 February 2012 - 10:44 PM, said:

i have never heard of a carers assessment ! its not easy to care for sum1 with an illess of this nature i no how traumatic it can be not only for the sufferer but the person who cares for them . carers are the hidden heroes looking after millions of vulnerable people today they save the gov millions and deserve more support in the work they do ! i think u should remind the professionals of the gd vocational work your doing and overstate it dont be afraid to constructively use ur voice if u feel they are not being fair !

Thank you for your comments.

[Special.L]

mld, on 26 February 2012 - 02:54 PM, said:

Every year at my CPA review, my husband gets told that he is entitled to a carers assessment. However, in the next breath they also say that if he had one and needs were identified there are no resources to meet those needs. The only thing there is is our rethink carers group, which he now attends.

I hope that if you get a carers assessment, which I understand takes a couple of hours, there are resources in your area to meet any needs that you may have.

M.

Thank you for your comments That is awful what they have told your husband what was the point in mentioning it to him if there was no funding hopefuly he maybe able to get another assessment and see if it gets him anymore help? To be honest i dont even know what my needs are lol i spoke to my local carers centre who explained a bit more about it they've just told me to tell them what i'd like to do on my own for eg a hobbie or some education etc but to perfectly honest its been that long since i've been carering for my partner and son that i havnt got any hobbies other than baking cakes lol so am a little stuck on what to say to them that i need even if it is just an hours break but i suppose even just having a nice hot relaxing bath would be great right now an uninterupted one any way am rambling again haha sorry thank you again and hope your husband could get some more help

[Special.L]

mabel, on 29 February 2012 - 11:56 AM, said:

Hello

I had one of these when my son was sectioned and it was strange reading what the person writing it had put. It was like she was talking about another being, she got so much wrong! So next time one was offered I said no thanks. You are supposed to be offered a carers' assessment but you don't have to have it. Just say no thanks. Like you I feel they are a waste of paper and time when what you really need is your ill relative TO BE WELL ! x

Hi,
I find alot of the professionals get alot wrong my partners psycatrist cant even spell my name correctly on each report i tell them and still they spell it wrong haha. I know i dont have to have one but am going to give it a try as things are really difficult at the moment even if they can just give me an hrs break would be amazing so am keeping my fingers crossed it helps if not then i can at least say i've tried and so true but still staying hopeful that they will get well and thank you for your comments

[Special.L]

CeeBee, on 01 March 2012 - 08:40 PM, said:

I would try to view it as a positive thing. The worst case scenario is that you get no benefit from it, in which case you haven't really lost anything. But there is the possibility that you do manage to access some help from it so it is worth pursuing.

In many ways you are flying blind as you do not know how much money is available in your area, who you are competing against, what sort of support they typically fund etc. and your chances will probably also depend to some extent on the care co-ordinator and other individuals involved.

I would suggest putting in some preparation beforehand (I haven't been online for a while so hope it hasn't been and gone already). It is probably worth thinking about what you find particularly difficult about your caring role (as one of your children has special needs you could possibly include both roles, I'm not sure), what effect it is having on your health (mental and physical), how it is affecting your family relationships, what sorts of things would help you and how they would help (i.e. improvement in your health, enable you to continue caring, keep the family together etc.). Basically, if you can help them to build a case that the cost of any extra help is going to be offset by savings in terms of keeping you "in post", reducing you and your family's burden on services in the long term you'll have a better chance of acessing any funding that's available.

I know it can feel depressing going over the more negative aspects of life, especially when you are already at a low ebb - unfortunately this is just the way the system works. The fact you love your family and do everything you do willingly day in day out without complaint and, frankly, probably deserve a medal, is irrelevant for most of these forms and assessments.

In thinking about what sort of help would be useful to you it might be worth trying to find out what other people in your area have got and if there are any local charities or organisations providing the services you are interested in (especially if they have contracts to supply to the council). I have heard of someone local to where I live getting a few hours babysitting a week paid for by Direct Payments, which would maybe enable you to attend a support group or do something else for your mental health.

Nothing is guaranteed, but the very best of luck with your assessment

Thank you for your comments first

That is true at least then i can say i've tried it and if its not for me then its not for me but am staying hopful as nothing surprizes me anymore

My partners care co-ordinator is lovely so if she needs to get involved i think she would so hoping there is something they could do.

Ive not had it yet its tomorrow so i will let you know how it goes am not sure if they can do for both but i will be mentioning my son also to them.

theyve told me to do it away from my partner as it could be painful am dreading it but i suppose it can only be a good thing also.

and thank you again for your help

[Special.L]

melody, on 02 March 2012 - 01:09 AM, said:

I acted as unpaid care co-ordinator for my brother, stepping in basically, to do the work of the mental health team, who kept failing him. It turned into a full time job and the stress put on me was immense. All I wanted them to do was care for my brother, but he was neglected, leaving me to worry and do it all. So when I reached screaming pitch, they appointed me a social worker, to give me a carer's assessment. All that invovled was a brief chat and then help with filling in a lengthy form. They gave me promises of how much I might get and I thought at least that would help in some way, as I don't work. I was turned down flat - apparently my brother, although severely mentally disabled with paranoid schizophrenia...isn't on the correct level of benefit for me to qualify, despite all I did for him - they didn't take that into account. They haven't yet assessed him to see if he is on the right level anyway! Talk about build you up and then let you down... the people in the system don't know the system. It was all a waste of time in the end.
My advice would be to grab as much help and advice as possible try not to let it stress you out too much.(easier said than done, I know)
This might help too.
http://www.nhs.uk/Ca...ssessments.aspx
Wishing you all the best

Thank you for your comments i've heard that alot about them building peoples hopes up and then them getting let down at the end of the day your his carer and something should be available to yourself. Like yourself i am out of work due to my caring roles but i have been looking for a job that fits in with my role for a while not that i've even been given a interview but its worth a try but any help anyone gives me at the moment is worth it either that or pull my hair out which ever comes first lol.
thank you for the link it was very useful and thanks again for your comments and hope you and your brother well wishes