Edge of Care programme!

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blacksatin
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Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:01 pm

Edge of Care programme!

Post by blacksatin » Mon Jun 29, 2015 11:24 am

Hello
In our C.I.N meeting last week, the Social Worker said there's a programme that D offer, its called Edge of Care. This is what the Social Worker said about it:
"the team are based at a Children's Home, well, it used to be a Children's home, but it's not a Children's home anymore ( :? ), they come out to your home, and work with you and your child for 8 weeks, they can even have Little Miss stay with them for a few nights, if you want"

She told us to think about it. We have to phone her today and let her know whether we want to go ahead and do it or not. I don't see that we have a choice.

After a little research, I've found a news article on the website of D Children's Services Trust (who are an independent team who have taken over the running of D Social Services), saying that Ofsted have rated their Children's home as good. The news article also states "team members work for up to 8 weeks with parents and carers to help them set boundaries and manage behaviour. At the same time they support young people to tackle issues such as drug taking, drinking and aggressive behaviour, and can offer one night a week at the care home"

I then found the report on Ofsted's website, it says the building is registered as a children's home.

The present Core Group members all agree that we, as Little Miss' parents, have put the boundaries in place and have tried to 'manage' Little Miss' behaviour - so I cannot see what this edge of care team can do.....I have read the Explosive Child (by Dr Ross Greene) book and thanks to Dr Ross Greene, I have a list of lagging skills and unsolved problems, but no-one's interested :x :evil: !

I know over the years, I've asked for help from NHS, Social Services, School, etc. and the present team have done their best, but with CAMHS - once again - refusing to get on board, no diagnosis of anything other than attachment disorder - and the strategies we were given (by the School's therapist who was a child psychologist, and trained in attachment disorders) which failed on an epic scale and all other strategies THEY have told us to try have failed, Pathological Demand Avoidance not being recognised in Dr, one failed private assessment of PDA (it failed because the Social Worker involved at the time and her school she was attending at the time, lied in their reports to the assessment centre).....I can't help but feel they've failed her. I fear whether we agree to the edge of care programme or not, they will take Little Miss away :(
Last edited by blacksatin on Wed Jul 01, 2015 10:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Suzie, FRG Adviser
Posts: 4199
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm

Re: Edge of Care programme!

Post by Suzie, FRG Adviser » Mon Jun 29, 2015 5:04 pm

Dear blackstain

Welcome back to the Parents’ Discussion Forum.

My name is Suzie and I am an Adviser at Family Rights Group.

From you post it appears that Children Services has been involved with your family for some time and you have found it difficult to get the correct support for your daughter.

As Children Services has carried out an assessment of your daughter and there is a Child in Need plan, which is recommending that you use the services of Edge of Care to support your family, then unless you can identify an alternative you should consider using this service. It seems that its purpose (from the name) is to help where the possibility of care exists. Whilst, you express concerns that the service is registered as a Children’s Home, this in itself does not mean they will not be able to help manage the behaviour of your daughter. It may well be that there is staff at this service who have the requisite experience to support and help your daughter.

If Children Services offer support after an assessment and it is refused this could give them cause to consider whether to instigate care proceedings in respect of the child.

I am sorry but I am not able to comment on the work of Dr Greene or Pathological Demand Avoidance that you mention in your post. I suggest that you read our advice sheet relating to Family Support Services.

You have been working with Children Services and other professionals and I encourage you to continue to do so to get the best outcome for your daughter. Being involved in care proceedings may not be the best outcome for your family, so I suggest you try the 8 week programme as it might be the service that actually works after all that you have been through before.

It appears that you believe that your daughter may need a specific diagnosis. Have you considered contacting the National Autistic Society who might be able to advice you on your daughter’s behaviour.

If you think it would be helpful you can telephone our advice line on 0808 801 0366 to speak to an Adviser. The advice line is open from 9.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

I hope you find the information helpful.

Best wishes,

Suzie

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Suzie, FRG Adviser
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Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm

Re: Edge of Care programme!

Post by Suzie, FRG Adviser » Mon Jun 29, 2015 5:07 pm

Dear blackstain

You will see that I have amended your post slightly to ensure compliance with Forum rules regarding confidentiality.

Best wishes
Suzie

blacksatin
Posts: 4
Joined: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:01 pm

Re: Edge of Care programme!

Post by blacksatin » Wed Jul 01, 2015 10:52 pm

Thank you for editing Suzie, I'm sorry for being a pain.

I phoned the Social Worker on Monday afternoon and broke down in tears, telling her my fears. She said she could see why I had those fears and put my mind at rest. We are going into this more positive and willing, hopefully, we'll get the right help and support this time.

Thank you for your advice

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Suzie, FRG Adviser
Posts: 4199
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm

Re: Edge of Care programme!

Post by Suzie, FRG Adviser » Tue Jul 07, 2015 10:43 am

Dear blacksatin

Well done for speaking with the social worker and having a more positive attitude. I hope this new way of thinking will pay dividends for you and your family.

Apologies for misspelling your name in previous posts.

Best wishes

Suzie

Har1Her1
Posts: 78
Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:59 am

Re: Edge of Care programme!

Post by Har1Her1 » Sun Oct 11, 2015 9:24 pm

Hi,

My children have also been offered outreach from an 'Edge of Care' provision. Both children are on a Child Protection Plan and both have diagnoses of autism and/or severe anxiety (in my opinion and through informal discussion with his psychologist, PDA). I have found the outreach workers very pleasant and their intentions are good, but they cannot provide the specialised support my children need and they cannot visit with the frequency that the children require to form successful bonds. The outreach staff, in our case, work full time at a children's home sixty miles away from where we live and their shifts do not offer them the flexibility to come when we most need their help. Furthermore, the infrequency of their support has not allowed our children to build up bonds with them and the children hide from them when visits occur (even barricading themselves in rooms). Respite was not offered to our children in terms of overnight or longer stays at the children's home and the outreach worker for my eldest son says it would be totally inappropriate for him due to his vulnerability and additional needs.
I apologise for the negativity in this post and I trust your experience will be more effective. However, I think, in our case, the Edge of Care provision was a cheaper alternative to the intensive specialised support my children require and, due to the infrequency of successful access, it has been a waste of the LA's funding.

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Suzie, FRG Adviser
Posts: 4199
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm

Re: Edge of Care programme!

Post by Suzie, FRG Adviser » Mon Oct 12, 2015 12:53 pm

Dear Har1 her1,

I can see how frustrated you are with the Edge of Care support.

It sounds like the provision did not meet or adapt to your children’s needs. Have you discussed the difficulties with the workers? Have they suggested how the programme could be adapted?

When will they being doing a report outlining the difficulties so this can be shares with children services and other professionals?

Have you passed on your views to children services? What is the plan now? Will they re- assess your sons needs Can they now look for more appropriate support?

You could discuss what more appropriate support might be available with the psychologist and pursue funding for that?

Or get in touch (if you have not already done so) with Contact a Family or the National Autistic Society Could they advise you about better support?

Best wishes,

Suzie

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