At 9am we had a multi-professionals meeting for son 1 who has a mental health problem. I find these meetings both very frustrating and sometimes upsetting, simply because the various professionals seem unable to work as a team in terms of setting common goals and sharing information.
Today was a perfect example, where one professional who should have been there had not even been invited. But the lady I had been asked to invite at short notice turned up, on time, and was very nice. The meeting was actually more satisfactory than some and I managed to hold it together for the whole session without getting upset or angry.
One thing that health, education and social services workers never seem to understand is that they often cause parents and carers far more aggravation than the actual caring role itself does. Everything is governed by budget constraints and service availability, by the need to meet government targets and show the best possible result in league tables, rather than by what is best for the individual. To get what you need you not only have to know the system well but to obtain advice and support from others who can be independent and are less emotionally involved than you are. I took an advocate along with me today and I think it was really beneficial. I can't imagine what it must be like to have to face this sort of meeting if you are new to the system or don't have English as a first language.
After that meeting the large weekly shop in Tesco seemed almost relaxing this afternoon!
6 comments:
I understand well what you're saying...I taught children with various special needs for a while and meetings ( particularly the "organisation" of said events...) was sometimes a nightmare.
BUT it's fabulous when one person ( and it occassionally only needs that one person) "speaks" your language, thinks ( or at least, attempts to think) in your same channels...
Sounds like a nightmare, Cathy, but glad it was better than expected
Hugs
A
xxx
Hugs from me too.
Why do organisations/people make things so difficult?
You're right Cathy, targets and objectives often get in the way of tackling the real issues. Let finance take hold of an organisation and then what really matters somehow gets lost.
Hope you got what you wanted from the meeting though.
Sue xx
When my son was finally given an appointment to see a specialist about his problems with ADHD last Decemember, I had to ask to rearrange as it fell right in the middle of his mock GCSEs, but I was told that targets meant he had to be seen within 13 weeks of referral, so no, it couldn't be changed. I did insist however and they did eventually concede, but who needs the battles. There seems, as you say, little concept of individual need.
I'm glad you survived the ordeal and it went better than expected.
I hate these meetings, but Jan you are so right, it really helps when there is one person there who is on your wavelength.
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