A bit of a rant about DoLS (quite long - sorry)

I remember while working in a care home for adults with disabilities receiving a form relating to the Incapacity Scotland Act. The information was to be read to the young adult prior to it going to court. As the young adult had incapacity to understand this process I thought what a lot of nonsense. On the day of the court case I mentioned my concern to the appointed solicitor who in turn mentioned I had something to say to the judge. As we were in his chambers at the time I mentioned to the judge the nonsense of this process. He was lovely however he said this was the politicians decision. What's the answer to that?

What a farce. I hope you receive an apology.

Last summer I had a call from an 'independent social worker' who said she and a psychiatrist needed to interview my mother for purposes of DOLs. By then my mother was 96, had been in her care home nearly 8 years, and had advanced dementia.

I did explain that since my mother was no longer able to hold any sort of conversation, or to understand questions, or indeed respond to anything, the mere idea of an 'interview' would be a bit of a joke, but at the same time I did understand that it was necessary for tick-box purposes.

It was many weeks later that the woman phoned me back to say that she and the psych. were satisfied that a DoL order was necessary.

As a matter of fact, it was no longer needed, I told her, since my mother had died a few weeks previously.
She was mortified - I almost felt sorry for her.

I know what you mean kitty, I have got pissed off too many times to count.
The district nurse referred to my Mum as Mary on her report which is not her name and assessed her without me there.
I hope you get an apology for their shocking performance.

It didn't affect mum at all Nana3 - it was me who got really pissed of with it all especially being told I should have sent it back when it took them nearly 3 months to send the blessed thing.

Hilda, quite a lot of the residents of mum's home have been assessed. Different area? New protocol?

The manager of my Mum's care home said she is going to apply for a DoLS. I'll be on my guard Kitty. I'm so sorry to hear what you and your poor Mum went through, as if we don't have enough to cope with. Best wishes.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards kitty. What I don't understand is why DoLS assessors had to come out to the home. When I worked in a Nursing Home (granted I've been retired three years) we did our own assessments, and sent off the forms to the local authority. There was never a problem, and the Relatives signed the paperwork when they visited. Have things changed in the intervening years?

Oh kitty, whatever next? I agree with a previous poster, they quite likely haven't got the right person. Why oh why do these things happen? Its often something that is supposed to help that causes more distress because of incompetence. Hope your letter gets a speedy reply with an apology - a real bunch of flowers would be nice too

Sorry, meant to say in the op, Deprivation of Liberty (don't know about the S).

The name is close enough Nina but sloppily done.

I had letters from SS constantly referring to my aunt and uncle as my parents, even though I kept telling them the correct relationship.

They allowed a person with dementia be returned home to the care and supervision of another person with dementia because they wouldn't do a home assessment visit because it was too far from the office (20 miles). I pointed out that I was doing the same journey daily, sometimes twice a day. They also refused to visit my aunt in hospital because the hospital was half a mile over the county boundary even though it was the designated hospital for all patients in that area of Oxfordshire.

I went through the complaint procedure and, of course, 'lessons were learnt' - and pigs might fly. But at least it enabled me to hassle them like they had hassled me

Go, kitty! Whatever or whoever DoLs are, they clearly need a kick up the backside.

Good for you with your snotty letter. It worries me that people like that can wield power and can make life difficult for people when they have quite enough to cope with. Hope you get things sorted.

It's such a shame that things like this can happen when you are doing your best in a bad situation.
I made an official complaint about our Social Services after my mother had died. They were such a handicap and totally incompetent. We were self funding so not after money.

If they mistakenly reported that your mum had bedrails and bumpers coupled with the wrong address and name I'd be questioning whether they even had the right person kitty More hassle that you can do without.
Reminds me of the social worker who filled in a report after a him visit for GS saying he had CF. NO, he had two heart surgeries before he was 3 mths.

We seem to answer the same questions to the same people, or sometimes different people from the same department who should have all the information, but no one seems to take any notice! I am a really horrible person, and would have denied having received anything at all from them, let them check their records.

Your welcome hope you are feeling better having got it off your chest have a and .

Ooh, can we see the snotty letter you sent? . Good for you kitty, some people can get a bit above themselves at times.

Oh Kitty I am so on your behalf. As if you don't have enough to worry about. I really despair when 'departments' become involved. Hope you feel better for your rant and can get it sorted without too much hassle.