Support
ServicesManager
The Support Services Manager role has replaced the Family Support Worker role,
which had been in place since 2000.
The title of Family Support Worker has had a specific meaning in social
care - someone who provides support (including the `hands-on type) and
advice to families in someone’s home as part of a care team. Although we
hope we provide good support and advice unfortunately we can’t visit
families. The title Family Support Worker has also not reflected the
breadth and scope of what we do on behalf of families and on behalf of the
organisation – education, policy development, advocacy to name just a few.
The new title will help us maintain and enhance RSAUK’s credibility in the
social and health care fields, and ultimately help you – especially in the
letters of support we often write on behalf of our members.
We continue to provide proactive support and advice to families,
especially through periods of change, difficulties and crisis. Over the
last few years we have – together with our Information Manager - put
systems in place to be able to do so this effectively as possible. We hope
that our guidance notes on Respite Care,
Benefits
and
Statementing will help to empower you as
parent carers, especially during difficult times. For example, by giving
you relevant information and enabling you to ask the right questions with
regard to obtaining services or getting an assessment for your daughter or
son. Information can truly be powerful. However we recognise that in
itself this may not always be enough. Local authorities and health
services do have financial restrictions and overspends. Too often you may
have to 'fight' your corner, but you don’t have to do this alone.
We are here to provide ongoing advice and support to you, on your
particular situation and circumstance. We can also write letters of
support, and suggest questions and issues to raise at meetings. We are
also here with a listening ear; someone who you can speak to freely, when
things are complicated, frustrating or just getting on top of you. We do
make a brief record of calls on our database system, so that we can keep
track of what is happening for all our families.
Finally, we want to listen to what you tell us are the most important
issues and how best we as an Association can support you.
Feedback is very important to us, as we want to know whether we are
actually giving the support that you as parent carers need and want.
Although we may not be able to follow up on every suggestion, your input
is still invaluable, and may form the basis of future plans. If there is
anything you would like to say, please do write, call or
email. We’ll keep you up to date with what we’ve been up to via
Rett News and of course this website! Our members are at the centre of
all that we do, so we need you to tell us how we’re doing!
