I have now been told that the capacity assessment will be carried out on Friday afternoon. The social worker is also planning to talk to the care home staff about my husband, how much help he has needed, whether they would be able to meet his needs permanently.
Best outcome would be that he is assessed as lacking capacity and he accepts that and that he needs to stay in care permanently. If that is the case is a Best interests meeting necessary ?
If he doesn't accept that he needs to stay in care permanently I understand that there will be a Best interests meeting chaired by the Local authority as they will be paying towards his care. I have been told that my daughter can be involved in this online meeting if she is available (she is a teacher so could be teaching at the time which would make it impossible). If she isn't I'm planning to ask if she can provide a written statement. I understand my husband will not be involved as this would cause unnecessary distress but a written statement will be taken from him. I've also been told that this will be a very uncomfortable meeting because the LA will ask difficult questions about what has been tried and why he can't be cared for at home. This is because there is a financial requirement from them.
Can anyone advise how I can prepare for this meeting? I have no idea what questions I will be asked.
Hi...I was in the same position last June.I was feeling so ill,and knew it was the right time for my husband to go into care.My husband is deaf and the social worker who carried out the capacity test(with my husband behind a plate glass window,due to covid)informed me he did have capacity,and as such,he would be coming home from him being in respite for two weeks.I stuck to my guns...and it got to the stage where I said if my husband comes home then I will leave the home,because if he has capacity then he will be able to look after himself? Social worker goes back again,this time to do another capacity test after I said"You do know he is deaf?"Anyhow,this time she says he does not have capacity,and arranged a Best Interests meeting at the care home,husband not present.There were two care workers present,myself and the social worker,quite informal and relaxed.the social worker asked my view,how my husband being at home had changed,his behaviour,effect on me,etc.,then asked the care workers how they felt my husband was behaving,any toilet accidents and so on.The care workers agreed that they could see my husband was confused,they found him one night in the laundry room,he had tried to find the toilet,etc.,In my experience,you just need to speak from the heart,just tell the truth,the impact it's having on your health...I didn't take any notes in with me or anything because I didn't need them,I had been living it 24 hours a day for over seven years.I honestly wouldn't worry about the meeting,but remember to stress the effect it's having on you,because you are the one that's at the rock face,so to speak.Please let us know how it goes?