Suffolk County Council

I rang Stowmarket office for a review of my personal budget as it required topping up.

Response from the duty social worker on the phone was surprisingly prompt. A referral through to a new social worker was agreed and within 5 days I had an appointment.

The social worker and I met at my home. She was on time, prepared for our meeting and was ready to develop a positive working relationship.

We reviewed the purpose and aims of my care plan, recognising the importance of me as a disabled person having choice in the way my need to remain active and independent were met and that control of my budget was key to the success of myself and the plan.

Again within a week, my plan was updated, available to me on a secure E mail (which was a nightmare to use as a Google / chrome user, SCC ITC need to listen to service users experiences). The plan was approved promptly by the manager. I was rather delayed in forwarding my financial assessment to the team at Endeavour House.

About two weeks later I received confirmation of the Personal Budget, the available funds and date of transfer to the SIL account.

As a former Social Care Manager myself, I was somewhat unsure of how the system might work, given the ongoing constraints on the public purse. I am aware that physically disabled people across the region have had variable service provision and others have been reluctant to give Personal Budgets / Direct Payments a "go". Suffolk Services have enabled me to continue full participation in my local, regional, national and international communities, supporting physically disabled friends and colleagues to take up opportunities in activities and interests, to remain confident and well.

I am able as a consequence of the social care I receive, to stay in control of my health and well-being and out of hospital based services. So a huge thank you to Suffolk's Adult Care Services.

I have been trying to organize respite care for my husband who has alzheimers and less than a week to go still nothing was organized. In the end I did not have my break because I got too stressed with the lack of support. Have also had two appointments arranged for Social Services to come and assess our situation and both have been cancelled at the last minute

Suffolk Careline EmergencyPlanning
As a carer I was given a grant for a respite break by SCC. In discussion with a social worker we arranged for family to care for my husband over the week I would be away. Unfortunately, family members were unable to carry out all the care required and really struggled with my husband due to the nature of his dementia. When the family called the family carers emergency planning service that we had previously registered with, they couldn't help and said that I should've booked 2 weeks ahead and that it wouldn't kill him to have the problems for a week. Our family were unable to get my husband up, get him to drink or have a shower and we had thought family would be able to cope. What is the point of registering for emergency support if when you need help they say you should book. Our family had to struggle until I got back as the service offered no help.

We go to the Willows Children's Centre every month and see a health visitor and get our baby weighed. There is no translation service available so I use the little English I have. The health visitor does give me advice and I can ask basic questions. If the issue is more complicated I go to the GP and use language line or the GP speaks my home language.

The Health Visitors said that they would visit but didn't turn up. I've had to chase them for appointments and this is very different to two years ago when I had my first child. I've been asked to visit at various locations which is ok but they should't have said they would come to me.

I don't feel that I'm getting the support I need from my Health Visitor unlike my Social Worker. I feel that she looks down on me.

Getting in touch has been a problem but we now have our social workers mobile number so it is much easier to contact him. He has been very supportive and helpful.

Social services arranged for me to have hand rails fitted at home and they were done within a week!

In July 2015 Social Services failed to respond to my request for help to care for my wife who has dementia. My GP got involved in Dec 2015 and I received a contact within a week. A social worker phoned and arranged a visit. Within 6 weeks we were moved into more suitable accommodation-great!

I have epilepsy and a head injury and moved to the area 2 years ago. I did have an alcohol dependency problem but have undergone treatment. I've had my children taken into foster care I do not feel that social workers listen or explain things to me. I have a complicated medical condition and this doesn't seem to be understood by social workers. It seems that this is being used as an excuse and I'm sure other people are allowed to care for their children when they have epilepsy