A single mum of three disabled children is in the process of lodging her third complaint in three weeks about county council services.
Jackie Buick, who has three sons with complex and additional needs and a daughter studying for her A levels, said she has been left with no choice but to formally complain about Leicestershire County Council despite their support.
She said: “I don’t want to complain about the people who have made a difference to my children’s lives but I feel I have no other choice.
“Some of the people working for the council are amazing, they improve my children’s quality of life on a daily basis. The work they do is so important and they work hard to do it.
“It’s not them, it’s the system and that’s what the problem with complaining is.
“I make a formal complaint and it comes back on the staff that work with me and my children but it shouldn’t because none of this is their fault.”
Jackie says she has been forced to complain because staff can’t help her any more than they already have.
Her complaints centre around her eldest son’s care package and another son's education and health care plan.
Jackie, a carer said: “I didn’t want to formally complain but I will if that’s what it takes.
“There will be people out there in the same situation as me that don’t complain and I understand why, it’s an exhausting and emotional process.
“It’s lengthy and distressing at what is an already distressing time.”
Jackie’s three sons each have different needs and she says her family has been badly affected by the changes to care plans and personal health budgets as well as cuts to the special education needs transport budget.
She said: “One day I get a letter from social services saying that my son’s care package is changing, the next day there’s one from the transport department saying that special needs transport services that my other son relies upon are being cut.
“He’s at a special school in Birmingham and they are going to cut the budget by more than half, I’ve no idea how he will get to school so that’s another issue for the new year.
“It’s coming from all angles and we’re just one family.
“The changes and cuts are impacting on people’s quality of life, on my children’s quality of life.
“The cuts are running too deep, services are collapsing and it’s not going to get better.
“And the people that are affected by all this are the most vulnerable and children.”
In response to the issues raised by Jackie, a Leicestershire County Council spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear of Ms Buick’s concerns. We take all complaints very seriously and will continue to work closely with the family to address the issues raised.
“Due to significant financial pressures, we’ve had to review our special educational needs and home to school transport policies at a time where the demand for transport is growing.
“Families will receive a personal transport budget towards getting their child to school, which will give them the freedom and the flexibility to make travel arrangements that best meets their needs and circumstances.
“Where there are exceptional circumstances, we’ll work closely with families to understand their individual needs and the policy proposals reflect that.”
