The more things change the more they stay the same ... Wait. What am I saying? Things haven't really changed. Not at all.
We are struggling through. MOTH is still awaiting an outcome for his appeal regarding the second rejection of his pension claim. This is from March 2019. The wheels of bureaucracy surely do turn slowly. He is still expected to work or study to meet his obligations. He is slowly working through a course they've started him on; something to do with retail. Who the heck needs or wants a diploma or certification in RETAIL? Heck, that's all on the job. But, whatever.
Things continue as normal with Niece. She seems to have dropped the fuss about the boy from the Tuesday/Thursday group but was slyly and quietly still stringing the Monday/Wednesday group fella along. We are at the point where she no longer mentions either of them. That doesn't mean she has given up the obsession, she's just quiet. We can tell her obsession is still rampant as she still vandalises her belongings with their names.
Her NDIS review was done in April. I have been asked to provide more information about her diagnosis for Autism and any intellectual disadvantage. These need to be assessed under the NDIS DSM-5 criteria. I don't know what that is but apparently it determines a level of disability and as far as I can tell, can have an effect on the amount of funding she receives. Where to get this diagnosis is a little tricky. The case worker from the group looking after her package - Carers Queensland - had suggested I start with the school she attended to see if they had some record. I still don't know if the school did. I was told they would have to check their archives and still haven't heard back. I'm not too worried about that one. I went to her GP to see if she had any suggestions. She put me in touch with a group she often recommends who deal with Autism in children, youth, and adults. I made contact but they are booked solid until 2020 and to contact them again toward the end of the year when they would be making appointments for then. If I couldn't wait that long, there were some alternatives who may be able to help. I contacted two of the three but neither was willing to take her on as a patient. So we wait.
The total package this year is more than last year so I intend to make use of it with more respite. We have had to source a new respite provider as the Autism Queensland group ceased that side of operations late 2018. NDIA doesn't help one source providers, as the person looking after her funding the responsibility of sourcing her providers is mine. That was a whole heap of fun. AQ provided a list of possible choices when they sent the closure letter. I had to go to the NDIS portal to search for providers. They really need to work on that system. It doesn't filter well enough. I was looking for short term accommodation as they call it these days but wasn't able to filter on that requirement. I ended up with a number of pages of providers that began with a 4. Two digits or three I can't remember. I did manage to settle on one who seem to be quite accommodating and less restrictive regarding dates than AQ.
Niece still has community access with AQ for four hours a week. A new person. Again. We have had a few new ones who do one or two shifts. The support worker she has now is a man who has worked with her before through the respite house. I really like him because he is a very strong personality and is very straight forward. He's been doing it for a couple of months now. The biggest problem is that he is very good at what he does so AQ sometimes take him from Niece's shift to work elsewhere. I think if they keep doing it I will actually complain. Breaking in a new person is just too much hassle. Teen was there to see the last lass who has taken a couple of his shifts when he's been moved. Well, she looks like a bit of a pushover. HAHAHA. I am still in contact with a previous support worker. I mentioned that to her last time we had a catch up. She seemed a little dismayed.
And Niece. Well. She's quiet about the boys but her behaviour still ... needs improvement. Her support worker, G, has worked with her previously through the respite house. He has had more time to get to know her now. He remarked one day that he used to trust her but not now. She's dodgey as. He has also noticed her penchant for finagling someone else into paying for things for her, having witnessed it first hand as he was not standing next to her at the counter. So there we are.
I've decided that there are far too many of her father's genes going and there will never be a fix. I'm trying to withdraw and to hell with it. She can deal with the consequences of her actions herself. I am not going to support her in any way there. Now if she does something I try to say when you do this, it makes you look like that, and makes me think this. If she gets in trouble in her day groups I just say well, here is the consequence here and whatever your day group decides is the consequence is the consequence. You will have to deal with that because I can't change anything. As an example, earlier in the year she was taken from her favourite activity on the Tuesday group because she was stealing food from fridges, eating ingredients that were to be used for cooking, etc. The last straw was an outing to celebrate a birthday and she was tasked with taking the cake back to the kitchen. She stuck her fingers in the cake and took a chunk of it.
Each time she stays in respite I receive a written report on moods and actions daily for her stay. During one stay she was reprimanded for stealing the food of another client. One with a gluten intolerance. She was unrepentant apparently just completely ignored the person who was in charge. They had been warned though in the client profile that she would be likely to do this. She has been spoken to by her Monday/Wednesday group for stealing food from the staff fridges and trying to hide it in the client fridge. She is now on a close watch. And just two days ago, I was informed that she has been waiting for the supervisor to leave the room so that only casual staff a there on the Tuesday/Thursday group and helping herself to food from the fridge for morning tea even though she knows they do not provide it.
She knows EXACTLY what she is doing.
However, it is still at the point where everyone in the house is stressed and health is suffering. Even mine. So I have set myself a 12 month plan. At her next review I shall push for a resettlement into supported or group housing although I am sure she would not be a good candidate for it. And to hell with the financial consequences....
