You Must Choose To Be Homeless

The reason people say this, is becuase they couldn't possibly conceive the actual insanity you have to endure with state institutions in order to possibly get housed.

For well over a decade friends and strangers have asked why can’t I just fix my homelessness. The usual cry from strangers is, “you must choose to be homeless. There’s no reason in the 21st Century for anyone not to have a home.”

The second part of that statement is emphatically correct. There is no logical, rational or decent reason anyone in Britain should be without a place they call home in 2024 but that’s the State’s call. As for choosing to be homeless, as ludicrous as that sounds coming from a grown adult’s mouth, it couldn’t possibly be further from the truth.

For years I’ve been trying to find the one thing that would explain to them starkly and simply, what the problems I face on literally an hourly basis are which prevent me from curing my plight. An indisputable example spelt out in the beauty of black & white print that requires no explanation at all, but would lead to the penny finally dropping and for them to go “Ahhh… I understand now”

Well on Friday 16th August 2024, a day before I won my first ever Cup in the Swimming Race at the Serpentine Swimming club in the lake in Hyde Park, Westminster City Council (WCC) delivered precisely what I was looking for in spades.

I had written to my Adult Social Worker, Katie Taylor, asking her what I thought were the most logical and salient questions I could muster to resolve all of my issues. Rather than her responding directly, out of nowhere and without prompt, I got a response from their Complaints Department. I hadn’t even referenced the word complaint in our conversations, let alone made one. I’d simply asked a question of her behaviour as it was making no sense to me whatsoever and was causing me great harm - I was suicidal with the insanity of it all.

The WCC complaints department response, as you will read in the full thread of communications below,  totally ignored everything I wrote to her, made up a complaint that didn’t exist, then closed it without resolution.

They totally ignored every mail I sent trying to explain the situation and in the hope of getting some restitution. Instead they just put forward nonsensical retorts that I hadn’t asked for and that didn’t assist me on any conceivable level and most specifically and importantly didn’t answer the ONLY question that I had actually put to them.

Now the boss of all of these folks, the Leader of the Council, Adam Hug, was also copied into all these missives, but he seems to think all of his staff’s behaviour is perfectly normal.

Journalists and people who’ve supported & published the stories of my fights with the system during my 15 years of homelessness and 4 years without care for my ME/CFS, from the BBC, The Daily Mail, The Guardian, Metro, Private Eye Magazine & Tortoise Media have also been copied in - yet, not one of them has picked up the phone to Westminster City Council’s Press Office, to find out what the hell is wrong with these people… well at least not yet.

I also CC’d in Disability News Service founder & editor, John Pring to add to his overwhelming tower of evidence that shows how the DWP & Local Authorities consistently and in a programmed and clearly policy driven way, take-away the last vestiges of hope and consideration from those most in need of support in the UK and in many instances - way, way too many instances - their lives.

His book The Department: How A Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds & Hid The Evidence, shows my case is not an isolated one, not remotely.

When you read my struggle to find some sanity in WCC below, spend some time to recall all the stories in the press recently highlighting the cost of temporary accommodation and ask why didn’t they grab the chance to save nearly £29,000 per year when I offered it to them? 

If the people paid to protect and support you become your worst enemies and their bosses not only endorse their unprofessional behaviour, but assist in supporting it; and you can’t find a single journalist to call the whole crumbling mess out for what it is… Is there any wonder I can’t find the solution to my Homelessness and care problems? It isn’t a BLOODY CHOICE!

Take a read of the communications below, start at the very bottom and read upwards if you want to see how it unfolded in order, or take the Chirstoper Nolan, Memento, approach and read it as I’ve laid it out below to discover just how truly insane the responses are - I’ve removed all people cc’d and removed everyone’s email addresses - though they should be easily found if you fancied chasing people for yourself.

Don’t forget this is one thread of communication, addressing one quetion, I literally have to deal with thousands every year with WCC & the DWP.

Enjoy!

---------- Forwarded message ---------

From: Paul Atherton

Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2024 at 16:48

Subject: Re: Adult Social Care Complaint - Atherton (50289149)

To: ASC Customer Engagement: WCC

Dear Malcolm,

Your response is inhuman and frankly you should be fired.

I never raised a complaint - so you cannot close a procedure that was never started.

I asked a simple question, it remains unanswered. People like yourself are what's causing Britain to crumble.

I hope you are ashamed of yourself.

I still need my question answered - who is responsible?

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Fri, 16 Aug 2024 at 16:30, ASC Customer Engagement: WCC  wrote:

Dear Mr Atherton,

Thank you for your email.

In light of our previous correspondence, we can confirm this matter has been responded to under our Adult Social Care complaint procedure. This completes the council’s complaints procedure.

Should you remain dissatisfied with the way this complaint was addressed, you may contact the Local Government Ombudsman at www.lgo.org.uk who will advise you accordingly.  

Yours sincerely

Malcolm Rose, Head of Service, Complex Care, Westminster Adults Division

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2024 11:36 AM
To: ASC Customer Engagement: WCC 

Subject: Re: Adult Social Care Complaint - Atherton (50289149)

Dear Malcolm,

This does not address my question, which is seemingly straightforward to me.

So is it that you don't understand what is being asked or that you are not the right person to be asking it to?

If the latter, who is?

Paul
Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Thu, 15 Aug 2024 at 11:20, ASC Customer Engagement: WCC  wrote:

Dear Mr Atherton,

Thank you for your email.

Our position is that the assessment and budget is sufficient to meet your needs, having considered all prior correspondence and evidence.

We can confirm that direct payments are available for you to spend as you see fit, sans Adult Social Care influence or involvement.

We also understand that a flat and a hotel are available to you, but this is a matter for Housing and does not fall under our remit. 

We hope this clarification suffices.  

Malcolm Rose, Head of Service, Complex Care, Westminster Adults Division

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 2:00 PM
To: ASC Customer Engagement: WCC 

Subject: Re: Adult Social Care Complaint - Atherton (50289149)

Dear Malcolm,

I can't open any attachments so please refrain from sending any - thanks.

Your below response doesn't relate to anything I raised with Katie Taylor in the email I sent to her and to which you are responding. In fact it has completely ignored everything contained within it - which is sadly the usual response from Westminster City Council.

But most specifically it didn't address the only question I asked.

So let me reiterate:

"Please explain why you & the Council are prepared to pay £600 + 8 Hours Care (approx £100) a total of near £700 per week, which would still be nowhere near sufficient for me in a hotel that provides no care to appropriately look after me, rather than simply paying 14 hours of care and no temporary accommodation fees, a total of approx. £150 per week to my friend to ensure my accommodation & my proper care, making a saving to the authority of £560 per week until I'm housed properly?"

Be grateful for an answer.

Thanks.

Best

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA) 

On Wed, 14 Aug 2024 at 12:41, ASC Customer Engagement: WCC wrote:

Dear Mr Atherton,

Thank you for your email – sorry to hear you were unable to access the response letter, please find the contents outlined below and attached as a MS Word document.

Dear Mr Atherton,

Thank you for getting in touch with Katie Taylor on the 12^th of August 2024.

We have assessed your needs under the Care Act 2014 and have offered you the relevant personal budget for this which is available to you as soon as you wish. We have fulfilled our duties under the Care Act, and we are of the view that this is sufficient to meet your needs.

As soon as you agree to the direct payments you can build up a reserve and pay any carers you are using yourself so I would recommend you start the Direct Payment as soon as possible.

I am aware that you have a property reserved for you. If you have any complaints about your housing situation these should be addressed to the housing team.

I’d also like to note that your benefits are a matter for the DWP and yourself.

Conclusion

I hope the above responses have provided clarity regarding the matters raised. We would like to thank you for raising these matters. If, however, you feel there is anything that has not been addressed, or you require any further explanation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We can confirm this matter has been responded to under our Adult Social Care complaint procedure and I hope that you are satisfied with the response. If you would like to discuss this further or remain unhappy with this response, please contact our Customer Engagement Team via ASCCustomerEngagement@westminster.gov.uk or telephone on 0800 587 0072.

This completes the council’s complaints procedure. Should you remain dissatisfied with the way this complaint was addressed, you may contact the Local Government Ombudsman at www.lgo.org.uk who will advise you accordingly.  

Yours sincerely,

Malcolm Rose, Head of Service, Complex Care, Westminster Adults Division

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2024 5:18 PM
To: ASC Customer Engagement: WCC 

Subject: Re: Adult Social Care Complaint - Atherton (50289149)

Dear Miss Williams,

I didn't raise a complaint - merely asked a simple question to my social worker Katie Taylor which was this

"Please explain why you & the Council are prepared to pay £600 + 8 Hours Care (approx £100) a total of near £700 per week, which would still be nowhere near sufficient for me in a hotel that provides no care to appropriately look after me, rather than simply paying 14 hours of care and no temporary accommodation fees, a total of approx. £150 per week to my friend to ensure my accommodation & my proper care, making a saving to the authority of £560 per week until I'm housed properly?"

So the answer to this would be very much appreciated. (unfortunately I am unable to open any attachments so please imbed the response in your email reply).

Please also "Reply All" as all CC'd are involved in my care and you have my authority to share this information.

Many thanks

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Tue, 13 Aug 2024 at 16:08, ASC Customer Engagement: WCC wrote:

Dear Mr Atherton,

Thank you for contacting us and for your patience whilst your complaint has been investigated.

Please find attached, the response to the matters raised in your previous correspondence.

Kind regards,

Miss Shafique Williams, Customer Engagement Officer, Customer Engagement Team, Adult Social Care, Kensington and Chelsea | Westminster, Bi Borough Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea – Bernie Flaherty

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Monday, August 12, 2024 10:35 AM
To: Taylor, Katie: WCC
Subject: Re: KATIE TAYLOR - ***URGENT*** - FOURTH TIME RESENDING AS RECEIVED NO REPLY - PAUL ATHERTON - DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Katie,

Please explain why you & the Council are prepared to pay £600 + 8 Hours Care (approx £100) a total of near £700 per week, which would still be nowhere near sufficient for me, in a hotel that provides no care to appropriately look after me, rather than simply paying 14 hours of care and no temporary accommodation fees, a total of approx. £150 per week to my friend to ensure my accommodation & my proper care, making a saving to the authority of £560 per week until I'm housed properly?

Especially as you know the hotel offer you described below doesn't meet my disability needs and definitely wouldn't meet my care needs.

And you also know I cannot take any permanent accommodation until my DWP payments are sorted out [Which has now been ongoing for four years] - Just this year, I've gone 2 months without money, as you've still not managed to get my DWP Disability Cash Payment Vouchers reissued when the company that supplies them, iMovo screwed up - payments that just require re-issuing and nothing more.

You've ignored over 100 emails to you explaining these above two points ad-nauseum. Emails I've persistently chased you for responses which you refused to answer - just my last email to you asking you questions about how you've concluded your decision on care - you've ignored NINE times.

My friend had stepped in to correct all your failures, providing me both the accommodation you had failed to provide and the care nobody has given me from April 2020 to March 2024. Which, through your decision last Friday in not paying for some of my friend's care costs he's already provided, and completely ignoring the cost of the accommodation that he's provided, has removed that option from me.

It's unclear why you keep ignoring facts and what you are told. It's unclear why your line managers aren't ensuring you're complying with the law.

You are supposed to be my assistance and helping me, not a block to my care and accommodation.

Even my GP accepted that you are the main cause for my suicidal ideation.

So that's the only question everybody here should now be asking and insisting on getting a response to. Why are you prepared to waste Council money to not provide me with my appropriate accommodation & Care as opposed to saving the council money and giving me the appropriate care and accommodation I need?

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Fri, 9 Aug 2024 at 16:20, Taylor, Katie: WCC wrote:

Hi Paul,

The hotel accommodation that was previously offered remains available to you.  Here is a reminder of the address:

OYO Townhouse Apollo, Hyde Park, 64-66 Queensborough Terrace, London W2 3SN.

In addition, the one bedroom flat offer also remains available to you.  Please contact housing (workers cc’d in) if you’d like to progress with this offer.  A new worker has also been allocated to support with DWP and they will be in touch in due course. 

Kind regards,

Katie Taylor (she/her), North Complex Duty Manager, Westminster City Council

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Friday, August 9, 2024 2:30 PM
To: Taylor, Katie: WCC
Subject: Re: KATIE TAYLOR - ***URGENT*** - FOURTH TIME RESENDING AS RECEIVED NO REPLY - PAUL ATHERTON - DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Katie,

I'll be returned to the streets tomorrow.

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA) 

On Fri, 9 Aug 2024 at 14:13, Taylor, Katie: WCC wrote:

Hi Paul,

I understand that you have an appointment with Dr McNally next Tuesday and she’s informed me that she will discuss with you the issues you’ve raised and the reasons she felt the care offer was sufficient when we spoke last week. 

As stated, your care offer is the equivalent of 8 hours weekly (32 hours every 4 weeks) and this can be used flexibly as and when it is needed.  Candice has been in touch with you to further explain how your direct payment could be used including building up funds you’ve not used when you are well and contingency funding for emergencies.  I note that you did not accept the care offer in your last email. 

If you remain unhappy with this offer then you can raise a complaint with the council under our complaints procedure. 

Please let Candice know if you’d like to progress with the care offer following your meeting with Dr McNally. 

Kind regards,

Katie Taylor (she/her), North Complex Duty Manager, Westminster City Council

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Monday, August 5, 2024 3:36 PM
To: Taylor, Katie: WCC
Subject: Re: KATIE TAYLOR - ***URGENT*** - FOURTH TIME RESENDING AS RECEIVED NO REPLY - PAUL ATHERTON - DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Dear Katie,

As this isn't remotely true, could you please forward the report that she sent after our last appointment and how this calculation was made?  Especially in relation to the contents of this entire email thread below.

I said I'd been bed-ridden for five days a week and in some instances 7 and longer, over the past three months. Which is well over half my life unable to do anything at all. I don't go a day without some form of “Crash” though.

She is totally aware of how often this has been happening since under your care, and was shocked when I'd gone without food and water in the hotel for over 7 days as the weight loss was so dramatic when she saw me, that she had me run through a multitude of tests to ensure it wasn't a serious underlying illness, which at that time fortuitously it was not.

I'll reach out to Dr. McNally directly too, to find out, especially after the update email you were copied into, which she acknowledged, as you know - how anyone could have reached this conclusion is inconceivable?

I haven't been through a single day without a "Crash" since July 2020 (those three months, when I was able to eat healthily three times a day, had the constant support of Anthony on Bell Street and was regularly exercising with barely any stress was incredibly effective at managing my condition.

Best

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Mon, 5 Aug 2024 at 14:25, Taylor, Katie: WCC wrote:

Dear Paul,

Following consultation with Dr McNally last week, your weekly personal budget has been increased to £91.52 a week.  This is the equivalent of 8 hours a week when the carer is paid the London Living wage (£11.44 an hour).  Dr McNally stated her view that this level of care is adequate in meeting your needs.  We also discussed how your condition fluctuates so you can remain active and manage independently most of the time, however do need support when experiencing symptoms of MECFS.  Dr McNally informed me that you told her this is currently approximately 4 days a week. 

As discussed, direct payments can be used flexibly so you can use the funds as and when needed.  Candice will be in contact with you to set up this direct payment.  

Kind regards,

Katie Taylor (she/her), North Complex Duty Manager, Westminster City Council

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Monday, July 22, 2024 9:30 AM
To: Taylor, Katie: WCC
Subject: KATIE TAYLOR - ***URGENT*** - FOURTH TIME RESENDING AS RECEIVED NO REPLY - PAUL ATHERTON - DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

 Dear Katie,

I haven't received any response from you in three weeks or from the person you appointed to cover for you whilst away - please deal with below immediately.

Thanks.

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Thu, 11 Jul 2024 at 10:39, Paul Atherton <paulathertonsimpletv@googlemail.com> wrote:

Dear Chrisitanna,

As yet not got a response to the below email - could you please address URGENTLY.

Thanks.

Paul
Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Mon, 8 Jul 2024 at 11:10, Paul Atherton wrote:

Dear Christianna,

Through her auto-reply, I'm afraid Katie Taylor has landed this on your plate. Huge apologies. This should have been dealt with FOUR YEARS ago but for some reason it never was.

Anyway, as you'll see from the correspondence below I am now in urgent need of the funds.

As you'll be aware, as Westminster City Council didn't accommodate suitable disability accommodation for me after they screwed the relationship with Premier Inn Hotels a friend stepped in, providing both accommodation and 24 hours, 7 days a week care.

He is now severely out of pocket, having stepped in to cover Westminster's failings back on the 28th March 2024 and will no longer be able to do so unless he gets the minimum of 2 hours care per day he's already well surpassed.

If you need anything more from me to sort this out, please let me know as a matter of urgency? If not, please let me know when the payment will be made?

Many thanks and apologies again for having this land on your plate.

All best wishes,

Paul

Paul Atherton FRSA

On Sat, 6 Jul 2024 at 17:01, Paul Atherton wrote:

HI Katie,

Can you please answer the following questions inline and in red.

Like This

1. When you came to assess me I was trapped in bed barely able to speak. Do you remember?

2. You've been alerted to the fact many, many times, in emails that I've sent you, that I've been unable to feed myself or drink and on numerous occasions for over a week or more. almost dehydrating to death, as I've had no care. Do you recall?

3.  What is the purpose of getting in touch with my doctor if she has already confirmed I've been diagnosed with ME/CFS (which was by the way by the world's leading expert on the condition, when he was at Heath Hospital in Cardiff - Professor Borysiewicz https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leszek_Borysiewicz)?

4.  What do you understand by the term "Crash"?

5,  What do you understand by the terms "relapsing & remitting"?

6.  How often and long do you think I "Crash" on an average week?

7.  Why do you think a condition that has had me trapped in bed for over 18 months straight and latterly wheelchair bound for 18 months straight wouldn't require that level of care as a basic requirement, especially when it happens 3 or 4 times a week at present and could return for keeping trapped in bed for years the next day?

8. Nothing has changed since we spoke. This has been the nature of the condition since I was diagnosed with it in my 20s.

Thanks
Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Sat, 6 Jul 2024 at 16:07, Taylor, Katie: WCC wrote:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your email and for the link below.  As I am sure you are aware, our assessments are person centred and must consider the unique impact that different health conditions have on different people. 

When we first starting communicating about your care needs in 2021, we discussed how you need support when experiencing a ‘crash’ related to your MECFS.  This would include support with personal care, meal preparation and shopping.   We discussed how you are able to walk, swim etc when not experiencing a ‘crash’ and can manage personal care and other daily tasks by yourself at these times.  Please refer back to your assessment for further details.  I understand from your communication with Candice that you are saying that you now need support with personal care, eating etc twice every day.  Please can you let me know when this changed?  I am happy to offer a reassessment if there has been a change in your needs.  Please let me know.

Thank you for letting me know that your GP is currently on leave.  We will catch up with her when she returns

Many thanks

Katie Taylor (she/her), Interim Team Manager, North Complex Team, Westminster City Council.

People First website address:- http://www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/ People First queries:- PeopleFirst@rbkc.gov.uk

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Friday, July 5, 2024 5:59 PM
To: Taylor, Katie: WCC
Subject: Re: RESENDING AS RECEIVED NO REPLY - PAUL ATHERTON - DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Hi Katie,

it's precisely as I laid out to Candice and copied into you.

My GP is on holiday until the 15ht July 2024.

But clearly all she can do is confirm the diagnosis and how the condition affects me anyway - which you should already have.

People in bureaucracy seem to have great difficulties comprehending what a relapsing/remitting condition actually is - if you need me to explain once more - follow this link,
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-cfs/

Best

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Fri, 5 Jul 2024 at 17:39, Taylor, Katie: WCC wrote:

Hi Paul,

Candice has been in contact with me and has let me know that you have raised issues with some of the information in your assessment and are disputing the outcome. 

Please can you let me know which sections you would like me to look at again so your eligibility for further hours can be considered?  I have also contacted your GP for further evidence as to how your conditions impact on your every day functioning. 

I am not in the office next week and have asked my colleague, Christianna (cc’d in) to continue chasing this with your GP.

Once your hours have been agreed, your direct payment will be backdated to the 28^th March. 

Kind regards,

Katie Taylor (she/her), Interim Team Manager, North Complex Team, Westminster City Council People First website address:- http://www.peoplefirstinfo.org.uk/ People First queries:- PeopleFirst@rbkc.gov.uk

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Wednesday, July 3, 2024 8:32 AM
To: Cheung, Candice: RBKC
Subject: Re: RESENDING AS RECEIVED NO REPLY - PAUL ATHERTON - DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Hi Candice,

Thanks for your email below but I would appreciate a bit more detail if possible.

What time scales are we working too here?

And what does "being looked into" mean?

As you know my Carer has been unpaid now for THREE MONTHS - I'm sure you wouldn't work for that time without pay would you?

Many thanks.

Best

Paul
Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Tue, 2 Jul 2024 at 17:27, Cheung, Candice: RBKC wrote:

Dear Mr Atherton,

I am sorry for my delayed response.

I have discussed your request for additional hours with Katie, and it is currently being looked into.

I will be in touch as soon as there is any update. Many thanks.

Kind regards,

Candice Cheung, Social Worker, Direct Payment Social Work Team - BiBorough

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Monday, July 1, 2024 9:25 AM
To: Cheung, Candice: RBKC
Subject: RESENDING AS RECEIVED NO REPLY - PAUL ATHERTON - DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL

Dear Candice,

Didn't get a response to my email below, did you get it?

Could you please explain what I need to do to address the problems highlighted below?

Many thanks,

Best

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Wed, 26 Jun 2024 at 15:59, Paul Atherton wrote:

Hi Candice,

I'm sadly only too well aware of various DWP & Council's tactics of getting claimants to agree to things that they later cannot fix - not that I'm suggesting for one second you are doing that, but I want to be emphatically sure about my rights in this situation - so excuse me if I don't rush into this.

The key here is to get the levels of care up to at least a very, very basic level, which as I said would be 2 hours per day (assistance with changing, washing, eating and of course communicating - on average I spend at least 8 hours a week just chasing administrative staff at the DWP & WCC).

My previous administrative carer who never got paid, was working at that level for months, as people don't respond properly, obfuscate, don't read emails proproperly, follow instructions or has been the case here with WCC, simply ignore communications for weeks or months, so that they need continual chasing.

As you know a "Crash" of my symptoms leaves me bed-bound unable to move or speak, sometimes for days, sometimes for months and on two occasions over a year.

Anyway, do let me know what I have to do to achieve this?

Many thanks,

Best

Paul, Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Wed, 26 Jun 2024 at 11:23, Cheung, Candice: RBKC wrote:

Hi Paul,

Thank you for your kind response.

Regarding the communication need, Katie can amend the assessment. However, please note that this amendment will not change the indicative budget of the support plan.

Could you kindly clarify other issues in the assessment? I will discuss them with Katie. 

In the meantime, I can set up the direct payment for 5 hours until the issues are resolve. Please let me know if you would like me to proceed with this. Many thanks.  

Kind regards,

Candice Cheung, Social Worker, Direct Payment Social Work Team - BiBorough

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Monday, June 24, 2024 6:00 PM
To: Cheung, Candice: RBKC
Subject: Re: Direct payment

Hi Candice,

Thanks for getting back to me so promptly and too for cc'ing everyone in - masively appreciated.

There's a lot of inaccurate information on that assessment form. If I'd seen it, I'm sure I would have challenged it at the time.

For example, I often lose the ability to speak - it is why I was granted permission to use email as my only means of communication with the DWP at The Royal Courts of Justice in February 2019..
https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2019/395.pdf

Katie has been aware of all this since day one - yet the form indicates I have no problem with verbal communication.

How do we address al these failures and inaccuracies?

Best

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Mon, 24 Jun 2024 at 17:36, Cheung, Candice: RBKC wrote:

Dear Paul,

Thank you for your kind reply. Our team is a bi-borough team, and we provide services to residents in both councils. 

In regards to the hours, I have been advised by Katie that the indicative budget of your support plan is £77.23 which is around 5 hours per week. Attached please find the overview assessment completed by her in 2021 for your reference.

I understand that your needs vary, and under direct payment you will be able to use the funds flexibly to meet your needs. For example, if you do not use the funds this week, you can retain the funds for next week for more support. You can retain up to 8 weeks of the funds.

Thank you for advising the use of Docusign. I will send out the documents after you confirm you will have the direct payment fully managed by Barrie Bookkeeping & Payroll Solutions or via a prepaid card as some of the forms are different. 

If you opt for a prepaid card, you will receive a prepaid card after the direct payment is set up. The council will load the funds into the card account. You will need to activate the card via telephone. You will be able to manage the funds via online portal and telephone. Barrie Bookkeeping can provide payroll services and how much you should pay your PA. Please note that you can only make bank transfer, and cash withdrawal is not allowed.  

Should you have further queries regarding direct payment, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thank you.  

Kind regards,

Candice Cheung, Social Worker, Direct Payment Social Work Team - BiBorough

Our values are Putting Communities First, Working Together, Integrity, and Respect

From: Paul Atherton
Sent: Friday, June 21, 2024 8:44 AM
To: Cheung, Candice: RBKC
Subject: Re: Direct payment

Dear Candice,

Thanks for getting back to me.  I notice you're from the Royal Borough Of Kensington & Chelsea rather than my borough Westminster City Council - is there any reason for that?

I believe my Care assessment was for 14 hours a week (1 hour in the morning / 1 in the evening) although as everyone knows, my needs vary from 24 hour a day care to 1 hour a day.  Could you please send me a copy of the original assessment my adult social worker Katie Taylor undertook when I first requested care in April 2020 to confirm?

Again, as everyone knows at Westminster City Council all communications must be made through email - so please forward any forms that require my signature, filled in and sent through Docusign (Katie will be able to explain if you've not used that before).

Can you also please explain how the prepaid debit/credit card works?

Equally, can you please reply all, as all cc'd are involved in supporting me and have permission to act on my behalf.

Many thanks

Best

Paul

Paul Atherton (FRSA)

On Thu, 20 Jun 2024 at 17:24, Cheung, Candice: RBKC wrote:

Dear Mr Atherton,

I hope this email finds you well.

My name is Candice Cheung, and I am the social worker from the Direct Payment Social Work Team. Your case has been allocated to me for setting up the direct payment. Apologies for your wait in getting your case allocated.

I understand that you have been assessed to need 5 hours of support per week, and you would like to employ your friend as your personal assistant (PA) to provide the support you need under direct payment. I would have to send you the direct payment forms for you and your personal assistant to complete. Please could you advise how you would like the documents to be sent to you?

Under direct payment, you can choose to have the payment fully managed by a third-party company called Barrie Bookkeeping & Payroll Solutions Limited. That means the council will transfer the funds to them, and they will manage the paperwork and pay your PA on your behalf. You do not need to pay anything for their service.

Alternatively, you can choose to receive a prepaid card to manage the payment on your own. That means you will receive the funds loaded onto the prepaid card and make the payment to your PA. Please note that I will still refer you to Barrie Bookkeeping for the payroll service if you choose to receive a prepaid card.

Please let me know which option you would like to go for.

I have been informed by your social worker Katie that the direct payment start date will be 28 March 2024. That means your PA’s wages will be backdated to this date after the direct payment is set up. Please note that the hourly rate of PA is £13.15.

I am looking forward to hearing from you. Should you have any queries regarding direct payment, please reply to this email or contact me on candice.cheung@rbkc.gov.uk. Thank you.

Kind regards,

Candice Cheung, Social Worker, Direct Payment Social Work Team - BiBorough

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

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