I asked for an assessment of my 86 yr old Mother's mental capacity to manage her finances as one of the family was taking advantage of her forgetfulness to get large amounts of money from her. This assessment was carried out in May by a Social worker and her superior on their first meeting with my Mother and took one hour. No further assessment has taken place and the SW has only met with Mum on one additional occasion. A family group conference was set up for next week but cancelled yesterday as certain siblings who are making the situation a personal battle rather than do what's in the best interests of my Mother, refused the invitation to attend. The Social worker has cancelled the meeting even though two siblings and my Mother, with her advocate, are still willing to attend. Does this not make a farce of a supposed voluntary meeting and deny my Mother the opportunity and right to express her wishes that she would like me to continue managing her finances as I have done since she broke her hip and was hospitalised 4 months ago?
After a broken hip and subsequent replacement in March this year my Mother has become forgetful but not to the extent that she cannot make any decisions. The Social Worker can deem her able to do so when it suits convenience like rushing to get her into a care home, while giving myself and another sister who both work full-time 24 hours to find alternative provision. If not, my Mother was going to be placed by Social Services in a place that is convenient for other family members. She states my mother is capable of making a decision about where she wants to live and I agree but cannot understand why it is thought she is unable to make an informed decision about who manages her finances.
I visit my Mother everyday, one sister visits regularly (the others rarely bother) and we think we are in a prime position to assess whether she is capable of nominating a family member to manage her finances. After saying it many times and insistent that (to quote her words) 'I may forget things but I'm not stupid where I can't make a decision about who looks after my money and savings' she is quite clearly aware of what she wants.
Irrespective of this, the Social worker has informed that the State will be managing her finances once she confirms my Mother lacks the capacity to do so through an assessment she intends to carry out next week. I feel she does not support my Mother in making a decision but confuses her and asks leading questions which results in my Mother giving answers that contradict her actual wishes.
This is making my Mum worry and it's not good for her. I am not happy with the way the SW seems to have already decided what the outcome of the assessment will be. Is there any way I can be present or get an independent witness to the assessment process the SW intends to carry out?
I feel she has been biased towards certain sisters insofar as providing them with information which myself and another sibling only received a week later after requesting. In addition she stated the LA would only pay a limited amount for a care home placement yet when a certain sister found a place convenient to her the SW was prepared to find an extra £70 but denied that opportunity to us when we suggested prospective residential accommodation.
How do I go about appealing against the SW decisions. I aim to put in a complaint but how can I be assured the Local Authority won't favour their own employee?
After a broken hip and subsequent replacement in March this year my Mother has become forgetful but not to the extent that she cannot make any decisions. The Social Worker can deem her able to do so when it suits convenience like rushing to get her into a care home, while giving myself and another sister who both work full-time 24 hours to find alternative provision. If not, my Mother was going to be placed by Social Services in a place that is convenient for other family members. She states my mother is capable of making a decision about where she wants to live and I agree but cannot understand why it is thought she is unable to make an informed decision about who manages her finances.
I visit my Mother everyday, one sister visits regularly (the others rarely bother) and we think we are in a prime position to assess whether she is capable of nominating a family member to manage her finances. After saying it many times and insistent that (to quote her words) 'I may forget things but I'm not stupid where I can't make a decision about who looks after my money and savings' she is quite clearly aware of what she wants.
Irrespective of this, the Social worker has informed that the State will be managing her finances once she confirms my Mother lacks the capacity to do so through an assessment she intends to carry out next week. I feel she does not support my Mother in making a decision but confuses her and asks leading questions which results in my Mother giving answers that contradict her actual wishes.
This is making my Mum worry and it's not good for her. I am not happy with the way the SW seems to have already decided what the outcome of the assessment will be. Is there any way I can be present or get an independent witness to the assessment process the SW intends to carry out?
I feel she has been biased towards certain sisters insofar as providing them with information which myself and another sibling only received a week later after requesting. In addition she stated the LA would only pay a limited amount for a care home placement yet when a certain sister found a place convenient to her the SW was prepared to find an extra £70 but denied that opportunity to us when we suggested prospective residential accommodation.
How do I go about appealing against the SW decisions. I aim to put in a complaint but how can I be assured the Local Authority won't favour their own employee?
