CareChoices directory 2023/4 & SS mental health assesment

[Old_Skool_Fool]

Hi

Struggling to fit it into title,

I just wonderd if anyone on here is familiar with the process of choosing a home care provider for a family member, and specifically from the social services side of the process. Also, mum is due a mental capacity assesment, so how would thi impact the home care choice?

I was giving a link to Surrey Care services Directory 2023/4 from social services re my mum who's 89 and has dementia and breast cancer, she also has mobility issues and needs help with things like personal hygiene (taking shower).

To cut a long story short, we've had 2 "agencies/providors", the first one was absolutely briliiant, both in terms of the agency, but also the carer who did an absolutely amazing job (way above her futy). They was changed by social services, who told us the old agency were no longer an option via social sevices, to another agency who were the complete opposite.

Right from the very first visit where the first carer left my mum shell shocked. Despite telling the agency we never wanted that carer back, she was put on the weekly roster continuously. so each time this happened I had to contact them to tell them she shouldn't be on there (only for her to be put back on the very next roster - this contunued for almost a year). This was just the first of many problems we've experienced with both the agency and some of the carers, all of which have been referred back to social services who did nothing, except increase the visits from this agency.

After nearly a year and a half social services have finally said we can choose a new provider and provided a link:

https://www.carechoices.co.uk/publication/surrey-c...

This is the first time I've seen this document, nothing has been provided previously. I started looking at the Home care providers (page 37) and noticed the old agency (who were brilliant) is listed here, and the new one we've been stuck with for nearly a year and a half aren't listed.

But if I go to the care choices search online, both show up? Can anyone explain or advise re this?

https://www.carechoices.co.uk/browse/south-east/su...

I'm completely new to this, the first agency was referred to us via the dementia treatment mum was getting.

Now we're being given the opportunity to change, is there anything people on here could advise generally speaking what to look out for, any hints tops etc.

Supposdely mum is due to have a mental capacity assesmment, but no-one from social services are telling me when this is (I was told on the phone it'd be 2 weeks), but nearly 2 months have passed and no-one (from social services) are telling me anything. The guy from social services said there were "thousands" of variables as to what can happen after the assessment, so he couldn't advise until then.

As a;ways, many thnks for anyone who can help.

Regards OSF

[FMOB]

OP, this is a difficult situation but firstly you need to be taking lots of notes and keeping a record of contacts, meetings, etc, it is easy to out-think yourself!

Regarding alternative care providers, you can look for reviews online Inc. CQC, etc.

I know it might sound a little extreme but remove anything of significant value as it removes temptation if carers will be in the house unsupervised. If going into a care home is likely then go and visit some, if there are family of other residents visiting, they are worth talking to for experiences, etc.

Not sure where you are on the financial assessment but councils are broke so look to land costs on anyone but them. If you assume they will asset strip you are not far from the truth.

None of this easy so best of luck.

[Old_Skool_Fool]

FMOB said:

OP, this is a difficult situation but firstly you need to be taking lots of notes and keeping a record of contacts, meetings, etc, it is easy to out-think yourself!

Regarding alternative care providers, you can look for reviews online Inc. CQC, etc.

I know it might sound a little extreme but remove anything of significant value as it removes temptation if carers will be in the house unsupervised. If going into a care home is likely then go and visit some, if there are family of other residents visiting, they are worth talking to for experiences, etc.

Not sure where you are on the financial assessment but councils are broke so look to land costs on anyone but them. If you assume they will asset strip you are not far from the truth.

None of this easy so best of luck.

Thank you for your reply.

I did a search for our current agency and they came back with glowing references, apart from one (which wasn't me). Their google reviews aren't great, which from my experience, is far more accurate. But it left me worried that this agency can have such glowing reviews, when our experience of them has been so dire.

Credit where credit is due, the majority of the carers have been OK to very good, but when the agency / carers have been bad, they're so bad you just don't want to ever deal with them again, but unfortunately social services just don't seem to listen.

I'm still struggling to understand how they arent listed in the directory social services gave me, but our old agency is, even though social services said they were no longer an option(?).

But after 3 years of social services and the safeguarding team nothing really suprises me anymore.

Mum doesn't really have any assets, a small collection of collectable figurines etc and a few grand in cash, well under the £20k requirement. That would change if dad passes away, as supposedly he's leaving everything to mum (semi detached house), but it's falling apart around him, but he's too stubborn to change and spend money on repairs, even though he has way more than mum.

Thanks for your reply anyways, much appreciated.

OSF

[FMOB]

It sounds like going with the agency you had the best experience with is the path of least stress/hassle, etc.

My experience of carers has been from fine to criminal, the last ones cleaned all the valuables out of the house to the tune of £30k (clocks, porcelain, silver, etc). As for Councils, they are just as bad, legalised robbery.

Even the Care Home Mum ended up in were the same, her wedding ring was removed and put in the safe so it didn't get lost, never saw that again (24 carat gold).

There are some very good and decent people in the care system but I can only conclude they are a minority, plenty of others who think it is okay to just help themselves.

[Old_Skool_Fool]

FMOB said:

It sounds like going with the agency you had the best experience with is the path of least stress/hassle, etc.

My experience of carers has been from fine to criminal, the last ones cleaned all the valuables out of the house to the tune of £30k (clocks, porcelain, silver, etc). As for Councils, they are just as bad, legalised robbery.

Even the Care Home Mum ended up in were the same, her wedding ring was removed and put in the safe so it didn't get lost, never saw that again (24 carat gold).

There are some very good and decent people in the care system but I can only conclude they are a minority, plenty of others who think it is okay to just help themselves.

Sorry to hear about your experience, that's so sad to hear sentimental valuables were "lost". We had a similair experience, but it was with family members, not the carers.

I'm running into a bit of a brick wall. I emailed our representative @ social services about the care directory, they said it was a list of all carers, not specifically the ones that are available (paid for) via social services. So I asked for a list of those ones and got a reply:

"It will be largely current.
The care is not through us. It’s paid for by us.
You’ll find many care companies there."

Which is very strange as our current care providers were "given" to us by social services with no prior consultation or choice, it was a case of here you are, this is your new agency / carers as the old one is now unavailable..

Surely social services must have some kind of list of who are available, but of course, that'd be too easy and too much like common sense to have an up to date list they can just send you.

To be fair though, I requested a paper copy of the directory and it came through very quick, but when there's so many providers, what am I supposed to do, go through the whole lot to find out which ones are?

I guess I'll start with the old agency I was told are now unavailable...

Thanks for your replies and sharing your experience.

Much apprecioated.

[FMOB]

It does sound like they are leaving you to do the leg work, I would suggest you need to identify care providers that are able to take a new client on as this will thin the list.

I would get on the phone or start emailing, start with providers closest and work outwards, the list is moot if nobody is taking on clients.