Can someone out there give me some advice? I support a young person who does not recieve enough money to live life to the full, it just about covers bills. Mother is the appointee and is extremely defensive. our management and social services know about the situation but in two years nothing has happened. We as a staff team have been stopped from taking things futher on several occasions but are now seeking advocacy and think our next step will be calling in the safeguarding team. Can anyone offer any other advice?
is it that he doesnt recieve enough money or his appointee/ mum is gatekeeping it?if he has not got enough money to live it may be that he needs a financial assesments/ benefit check. if it is the case that he has funds but not allowed access then it is a safeguarding issue , sadly this is a situation many people find themselves victim of who have learning disabilities and where family members look after their money - i have worked with numerous people and when challenged find it ourrageous that something has been raised - one situation was when a woman was not allowed access to any money , had worn clothing and shoes , staff were bringing in toiletreies so she could keep clean and fresh , on the other hand the family were living in near luxury - good quality new clothing , meals out , holidays , they even had her mobility money and used it to have a family car she never got to go in???
it took a lot of stress , effort and strength to make a change , including false accusations against carers who were supporting the woman - the outcome being that the woman now has her money held by an appointee and has a good lifestyle, the family have no access to her money and as time has gone on make little or no contact with the woman - this is the only negative outcome , but i feel that is due to her not being the ' cash cow' she once was and not really valuing her as the adult she was .
Have you reviewed capacity? Sadly there are loads of these situations that were set up historically. A new assessment may prove the individual has capacity to be responsible for his own money with support
Bear in mind that you don't know the situation from mum's perspective either. The young man has a share of the household to support, for example, and were he in a care home his "allowance" would be £20. Too easy to make assumptions.
Important to make sure there is advocacy for the young man AND for mum, to make sure her voice is heard.