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We recently had a rather frustrating experience with a social worker. I have an uncle [uncle A] who has Cerebral Palsy and a reduced mental capacity. My grandmother and mother have cared for him since his birth, but for the first time in his life, at about age 60, he is trying to live on his own. We were able to arrange for social services to stop by and help watchdog things like his checkbook, rent payments, etc, as there was no longer any family nearby, and A didn’t want to relocate when my parents moved away. So, holding our collective breaths we tried to arrange for A to live alone. My other uncle [brother of the first] and I check in regularly, send money, help with his daily struggles and whatnot, and with the help of the social worker, our hope is that A will be able to manage. But after a few months I got a call from A telling me that he was bouncing checks all over town. After a bit of interrogation, it became clear that in spite of what we were being told, the social worker was doing almost nothing - helping with the checkbook is about the only real job that he has.
Obviously I was very angry about this, but we need to rely on social services if this is going to work, so I didn't want to raise a big stink. So, I figured I should be pragmatic and just get things straightened out. When I tried to contact the social worker, he never returned my calls. Finally I caught him at my uncle's house during his next scheduled visit. I explained what happened and that A had not balanced his checkbook in months. I then asked politely if he could help get this corrected. He offered no explanations but agreed to clean things up. In the mean time I sent A the money that he needed to cover the checks. I also gave my uncle a good lecture about money and the importance of tracking his money properly, and how to do so.
Some number of weeks later when I called to check-in, I get the following from my uncle: "Greg [the social worker] says that now he is my family and I don't have to listen to what you say". He told uncle B the same thing.
I know my uncle very well and this did not originate with him [he is like a child]. This clearly did come from Greg! The trouble is that we couldn't afford to make trouble as Greg was the only help anywhere near my uncle, and he could potentially sabotage the program and make things much more difficult. It wasn't even clear to whom he answers.
The good news is that I was just told that Greg has been reassigned and my uncle has a new social worker who seems to be right on top of things. But seriously, the nerve of that guy amazes me. Everyone in our family has given a great deal to help my uncle his entire life, and for this Bozo to come off with a statement like that makes me want to deck the guy. What a jerk! I nearly called to ask if he planned to cover A’s expenses from now on as well, but my hands were tied. I couldn't risk jeopardizing the programs that A is on now, and it was clear that Greg was a giant flake and a sneek, and he held all of the cards. It was infuriating!
Whew! Been wanting to vent on that one for some time now.
Obviously I was very angry about this, but we need to rely on social services if this is going to work, so I didn't want to raise a big stink. So, I figured I should be pragmatic and just get things straightened out. When I tried to contact the social worker, he never returned my calls. Finally I caught him at my uncle's house during his next scheduled visit. I explained what happened and that A had not balanced his checkbook in months. I then asked politely if he could help get this corrected. He offered no explanations but agreed to clean things up. In the mean time I sent A the money that he needed to cover the checks. I also gave my uncle a good lecture about money and the importance of tracking his money properly, and how to do so.
Some number of weeks later when I called to check-in, I get the following from my uncle: "Greg [the social worker] says that now he is my family and I don't have to listen to what you say". He told uncle B the same thing.
I know my uncle very well and this did not originate with him [he is like a child]. This clearly did come from Greg! The trouble is that we couldn't afford to make trouble as Greg was the only help anywhere near my uncle, and he could potentially sabotage the program and make things much more difficult. It wasn't even clear to whom he answers.
The good news is that I was just told that Greg has been reassigned and my uncle has a new social worker who seems to be right on top of things. But seriously, the nerve of that guy amazes me. Everyone in our family has given a great deal to help my uncle his entire life, and for this Bozo to come off with a statement like that makes me want to deck the guy. What a jerk! I nearly called to ask if he planned to cover A’s expenses from now on as well, but my hands were tied. I couldn't risk jeopardizing the programs that A is on now, and it was clear that Greg was a giant flake and a sneek, and he held all of the cards. It was infuriating!
Whew! Been wanting to vent on that one for some time now.
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