I have just had a very frustrating conversation with the elderly mental health team attached to the memory clinic.
Some months ago (end of January) after we hit crisis point, we had an emergency meeting with the doctor at the Memory Clinic and were led to believe that the cavalry was on it's way and we would get the full support of Social Services and CPNs and the like.
Well we're still waiting....
My Dad has had a visit from a 'triage nurse' and from a Social Worker at the end of February and then nothing....
Apparently the SW went on leave shortly after the visit, but all she seem to have done is recommend my Dad as suitable for a day centre. A decision will be made soon...
I have let my Mum make the calls, but today she asked me to take over and I tried to call the SW. Guess what, she is on leave, but back tomorrow. I asked to speak to the duty social worker and had quite an illuminating, if worrying chat with her.
The system in Wigan, apparently although nobody has told us this before, is that you either get allocated a SW or a CPN. It's just luck of the draw and who is free to take the case on. Does this seem strange to anyone else? Surely they have had completely different training and deal with different needs.
More alarmingly I was told that once the SW's recommendations for the day centre have been put in to place, the file will be closed and if we need help in the future a new file will be opened and we will be assigned a new SW/CPN. Where is the continuity of care?
Naively I had imagined that my Dad would be assigned a CPN who would get to know my Dad, help us to deal with managing my Dad's behaviour, and be on the end of a phone for advice. Clearly I have been living in cloud cuckoo land.
In the 2 and a half months since the appointment my Dad has deteriorated and his needs have changed, for example he seems to be having difficulty shaving, something which wasn't a problem when he was assessed.
I have asked the assigned SW to ring me tomorrow. I won't hold my breath.
Is this other people's experiences? Or do we just have a rubbish system in Wigan?
Some months ago (end of January) after we hit crisis point, we had an emergency meeting with the doctor at the Memory Clinic and were led to believe that the cavalry was on it's way and we would get the full support of Social Services and CPNs and the like.
Well we're still waiting....
My Dad has had a visit from a 'triage nurse' and from a Social Worker at the end of February and then nothing....
Apparently the SW went on leave shortly after the visit, but all she seem to have done is recommend my Dad as suitable for a day centre. A decision will be made soon...
I have let my Mum make the calls, but today she asked me to take over and I tried to call the SW. Guess what, she is on leave, but back tomorrow. I asked to speak to the duty social worker and had quite an illuminating, if worrying chat with her.
The system in Wigan, apparently although nobody has told us this before, is that you either get allocated a SW or a CPN. It's just luck of the draw and who is free to take the case on. Does this seem strange to anyone else? Surely they have had completely different training and deal with different needs.
More alarmingly I was told that once the SW's recommendations for the day centre have been put in to place, the file will be closed and if we need help in the future a new file will be opened and we will be assigned a new SW/CPN. Where is the continuity of care?
Naively I had imagined that my Dad would be assigned a CPN who would get to know my Dad, help us to deal with managing my Dad's behaviour, and be on the end of a phone for advice. Clearly I have been living in cloud cuckoo land.
In the 2 and a half months since the appointment my Dad has deteriorated and his needs have changed, for example he seems to be having difficulty shaving, something which wasn't a problem when he was assessed.
I have asked the assigned SW to ring me tomorrow. I won't hold my breath.
Is this other people's experiences? Or do we just have a rubbish system in Wigan?