My local council put in a shower for me, I already had a shower over the bath but found it difficult to get out.
Well everything was fine until 19 th Dec 07 it broke down.
I spoke to repairs team and told them it needed the Trtion engineer
They said no and made appointment for their man to come and look at it 6 days later on Christmas eve.
He said cannot do anything with that need
Triton.
Well I phoned them, sent a letter of complaint and went to the local offices.

Things I had to contend with was
Repair team staff who were arrogent, unable to make a desision, no manager or supervisors availabe, when one was I waited 30 mins and eventualy told them to phone me back which they never did.
Told to speak in English by one non English emloyee who said "then I can understand you" not interested about how you manage, no communication skills and definetly no common sense. All that was needed was aphone call to triton on 19th of Dec the problem qould have been solved.
This is only one of many problems I face and am fed up of having to fight for the basics to allow me to live alone, I have no choice anyway.
would like to know if anyone else has same experiences and how they coped and settled the matters.

yours angry frustrate and smelly

Paul
.
Eventually ater many phone call they phoned me and said Triton will come on 21st Jan 08 that will be 33 days without my shower.
i try to wash but very difficult due to limited movemaent in right shoulder and hand and to wash my hair in the sink is a nightmare.
Thus I have stayed in alot as i feel dirty and dont go to Church or shop unless its vital and feel generally diry and uncomfortable going out.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Paul,

Hi Paul,

I empathise with your problems with a council.

Regardless of your desire to live alone and handicaps, the council have a duty of care toward you and your experience is similar to one I had related to my son. That ended up with his unecessary eviction because the council employees would not listen, or apply their discretion or use their God given common sense and would not think beyond the "manual" in other words they couldn't give a sh*t. They did nothing "wrong" but they also did not in my view exercise their statutory duty of care. As a result of his eviction of which my Son was ignorant until the day [don't ask - he just was]the council then proceeded to destroy all his furniture, fittings and possessions. They took all the stuff in his flat that he could not carry in a bag and put in into a compactor rubbish lorry.

This was last April. I have now having exhausted the council procedures put in a formal complaint to the Scottish Local Services Ombudsman, not sure what satisfaction we will get, but I strongly recommend you do the same.

I put my son onto the local CAB and they have given us all the support we need to take the council to task but it is like speaking to a brick wall. However the CAB said that if my son had been allocated a Social Worker the council would not dared to have evict him unless the last possible resort and then would have ensured his property was stored as an emergency.

My point is Paul that perhaps you should think about forming a relationship with your own Social Work Department so that you are not left again to fend for yourself against an uncaring bureauracy!!!!! That does not mean you can't do for yourself or lose your independance but you would have a ready advocate to take on the system!! I will ensure my son has such an advocate in the future.

Take care you still have more than a week to wait I don't think you should be prepared to wait that long. In your case you effectively have no facilities to maintain your personal hygene and that to me in this day and age is a rsik to your health and welfare and accordingly an emergency, why not give your local Citizens' Advice Bureau a call even if they can just kick arse to get it done sometime next week rather than a week on Monday.

The attitude of council jobsworths just make me cringe, if you pay peanuts you get monkeys though!

Keep fighting, and stay mad!!!!!! Alan

That's a very good point Alan. Three and a half years ago my Mum had a near fatal stroke and was hospitalised for 6 months. When she was discharged she was assigned a Social Worker who contacted the relevant department to ensure that my Mum was provided with a bath lift. It took one week for Occupational Therapy to visit,carry out an assessment and issue her with the latest electric model which is a godsend. In comparison her friend who has not got a Social Worker has been waiting for four years to have a shower fitted, after having had both hips replaced, as she cannot get into the bath with or without a bath lift.

Lorraine

Hi Alan, Thanks for replying, I have someone who I can contact in Social Services although I do not have a SocialWorker, She tried to help and phoned them but no difference was made.
I would write to localPaper or Disibility Now but dont want everyone knowing my buisness.
I had to reveal too much just to get money to survive and be told if you did not work at all you would be better off?? Am seroiusly thinking of seeking Asylumn in another country to be better off or would I just rot in the gutter??

DONT GET ANGRY GET EVEN HE HE
Thanks for your support anyway

Paul

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Paul,

Before reading Alan's advice mine would be the same. If you do not get any joy with your social worker, then contact your local town councillor and if you don't get any joy there, contact your county councillor. You can get all their details off the internet, just go to whatever your town is plus council eg Congleton council.

In the meantime, Febreeze!

Hi Paul,
Jees you are getting it hard, (can't smell you though, honest! )
I still dread making phone calls. I don't mind if I have already met and spoken to someone in person then phone them, they can understand me ok, it's talking to strangers, It's so BLOODY rude when it is obvious you have a speech impediment and they ask YOU to speak more clearly instead of THEM taking the time to listen.
Don't let them get you down. Be proud of who you are and what you sound like. Remember you've come through hell and have been strong enough to survive. I'd like to see some of the idiots we have to deal with change places with us for a day or two. I don't think they'd make it!!!
Alans advice is good. The CAB are great for advice and helping out. Make use of them, that's what they are there for.
Susie. x

Hi Susie and Angie,I have had it all the stares
Can he talk
Can he hear
Ask for something in shop and they answer the person im with (go alone now)
Does he know where he is /
Does he do crosswords my mate was asked when I was out with him/ why he asked oh it willgive him something to do!!

Can I get taken seriously talking like a little boy and looking like a freak (dont think so)I am a social leaper now.

Am the same hate talking on phone to stranger


Paul

Hi Paul,

Here's a massive hug and smile . You sound really down. I know it's hard Paul but please try to not let them get to you. You've been so strong and brave to get where you are now. Don't let anyone think they are any better or more intelligent than you. You are special.

I got really cross at college last week. I kept passing this woman in the corridor between classes. She was so rude, you know the story, staring at my face as if I couldn't see her doing it. I could almost hear what she was thinking. (What is she doing here, look at her, this is a college not rehab, I bet she's mentally deficiant too) I got so mad so I walked up to her and said in my best voice,
"My face looks like this because I have had cancer, what's your excuse? and just for the record, I don't have learning difficulty's but going by your behaviour you have!"

There was a guy standing close by, I don't know who he is, but he started clapping and said to me "Good for you".

Some people just deserve to be put in their place. What sad little lives they lead!

Susie x

Hi Susie, I am not down justn bogged down with somany idiots around.
When I SAID "PEOPLE STARE AT ME I WAS ACCUSED OF PARNOIA!!
No they do and walk into things
I cannot say what i want to when I am out as its very stressful for me and I cannot get the words out of my little opening called my mouth !

Paul

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Hi Paul

I agree with susie, what sad little ignorant lives some people lead. I cannot even begin to imagine what it's like to have been through what you have been through. Like susie says put yourself way up above their ignorance and rudeness because you are worth it. You are a far far better person than they are. You have so many people here who care for you Paul and while I'm here good luck with the shower issue I hope you get it resolved soon you could do without this stress.

Thinking of you

Mum
xx

Paul,

If I could come and sort that damn shower situation out for you I would.

Mum's right Paul you do have so many people on here who care about you.

Lorraine

Susie, Brilliant - but remind me never to get on the wrong side of you.