Update on Direct Payments etc

Had visit from care co-ordinator.

Care co-ordinator is very positive about an application for Direct Payments. She does see the benefit in having someone whose time is dedicated to supporting me to attend therapeutic activities.

As discussed at last CPA review, the STR worker's remit does not fit my needs and my needs don't fit within her remit. I think I have been lucky to have had a year of her time. No I am not going soft, I just acknowledge that she has provided support (in the absence of) above her job description.

This, hopefully, will be resolved when the new care worker is in place. Still pending as they haven't found the right person for the job yet. Until that time (and when/if I get a Direct Payment) I will be seeing STR worker every other week.

Today's visit will be the last one. Care co-ordinator is moving on to another team. Actually, we had a more personal discussion about family needs and having to adapt jobs (in my case it was rather different) in order to be there for children.

I, due to prolonged bout of illness, had to give up work but it was the best thing I could have done. Not only for my sanity (such as it is) but so I could support Em in a more emotional and constructive way and help her (best as) with her education. If I had to pick one thing I have done right in my life. It was having that time with Em and being able to focus on her needs.

I felt we really connected today. Woman to woman. Weird that it happened as she was moving on but better late than never.

So until the new care co-ordinator is in situe, I will be co-ordinated (maybe not the best term for it) by one of the social workers. I don't have a problem with that. Before she goes my care co-ordinator is going to discuss an application for Direct Payments with them..and see how to get the ball rolling.

Yep, we discussed Lithium. I explained how totally spooked I am by the thought of it..she understood and said is not easy to try something when everything else hasn't helped but to talk my concerns through at next meeting with psychiatrist and that I am likely to be put on a low dose and see how it goes... in the meantime, to try not to worry about it too much. Then we hugged. That was really sweet.

I wished her all the best and I meant it. I do hope that she gets a better work/life balance in her new job. Everyone who works should have that...and those of us hoping to work in the future should be looking to a time when that is a reality rather than a pipe dream.