"Multiple social workers and lack of communication"

My sister was taken into hospital approximately 10-12 weeks ago. Eventually, she was allocated a Social Services worker whom we never met,  but on telephoning the hospital,  my niece—- legal next of kin— was just informed that her mother was in the process of being sent to a Care Home for the time being for assessment.

She was told the Social Worker would now be looking after the needs of her mother and was told the name of the care home her mother would be going to. This after my niece and I had been asked if we preferred any home, ourselves. We suggested two, left the hospital and thought no more. Meanwhile, the Social Worker was to let my niece know what would be done for her mother but, oh no!! The Social worker did not inform the next of kin(my niece) anything or even bother to see my niece in person!! Just moved her mother into the home.

My niece waited in for a week, panicking because she had no idea what was going on!! I decided to ring the hospital and was put onto the S worker. I asked what was going on concerning my sister and why had they bypassed the legal next of kin without even bothering to ring and let my niece know what was happening?!

The SW was very curt and really seemed to not think the next of kin mattered!!! I was stunned by this, as families should be told everything not ignored as my niece was being. The SW finally said that they would telephone my niece and tell her what was happening concerning her mother. Which they did and said they would keep in touch concerning her mother. This never happened!.

I rang the SW again only to be told my sister had a new Worker! This in a matter of a few days. This new one started asking whether my sisters husband still lived with her. —— my sisters husband died many years ago and now we had been passed onto someone who knew nothing about anything concerning my sister!

Once again, the next of kin was ignored and was spending her time trying to find out what this Social worker was doing. I was helping my niece as much as possible as the poor woman has caring responsibilities for a family member with additional needs and has been caring for them for the past 26 years as well as her looking after her mother.

We felt like no one cared about this in anyway!, then yesterday, a call came from the Care Home, saying her mother had had a terrible fall, with possible fractured skull and broken hip!! She was now back in the Pilgrim Hospital.

The Social worker has still not bothered to contact my niece. My sister was diagnosed with several things when she FIRST went into hospital kidney problems due  to dehydration and Calcium deficiency etc. On top, possible partial dementia. The only time my niece managed to get through to this new SW -as she was desperate for information concerning her mother.

This latest Social Worker told her I think your mother can come home. I assessed her six weeks ago and she can manage perfectly well for herself.

Unbelievable as my sister could not walk since going into the care home, was constantly losing track of life and kept getting urine infections!! The home said  no Social Workers had been they just kept cancelling their appointments with my sister yet, they still said she was to go home as she was able!!

Now, my niece is told by the home, that her mother is back in hospital in a bad way. I am disgusted with the Lincolnshire Social Services!! They have treated my niece and family as if they don’t matter! The arrogance and lack of care concerning a legal next of kin, is shocking!

Now we gather there is a 4 th - fourth- Social Worker , supposedly on my sisters case. This in just Approx 3 months. I wonder if this one will remember next of kin are important!

Too late now for my sister as has badly damaged herself.