Memorandum submitted by Lyn Charlesworth,
Clients Services Manager, Surrey Oaklands NHS Trust
LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE
I believe that your Committee will be discussing
the review that is currently taking place within the Public Trust
Office following the Chant Report.
As the Clients Services Manager within a large
Trust which cares for people with a Learning Disability and Mental
Health problems, I am extremely concerned about the changes that
are already occurring. The facility to be able to refer clients
affairs to the Public Trust Office, when they have large sums
of Capital, has ensured that there is a separate body to ensure
the clients affairs are adequately protected.
Over the past few years various changes have
taken place, without proper reference to the Receivers, Carers
and ourselves, for example.
(a) Clients with funds in excess of £1,700
had to have their affairs referred to the Public Trust Office
for a Direction of the Public Trustee. Where funds were then held
in Court the Public Trust Office charged £50 per annum. This
sum has now been increased to £100.
(b) In some cases stipulating the capital
should be held in National Saving Bank Account, rather than a
Deposit account.
(c) More recently, following the Government's
Quinquennial Review, that every case where the Client has assets
of less than £10,000 should be examined with a view to the
Public Trustee being discharged as that person's Receiver. These
funds are to be returned to this Trust for investment, on behalf
of the Clients.
Previously, where the Public Trustee is Receiver
the Clients have been visited at least once a year by the Public
Trust Office Visitor, who has discussed the clients needs with
the Client, Carer and other interested parties, a report was then
passed onto the Case Manager at the Public Trust Office, to ensure
that the necessary funds are made available, and that the expenditure
is appropriate. This is a further safeguard to ensure the correct
use of clients personal monies.
If the Public Trust Office is disbanded, people
in my position would have no support whatsoever from an outside
agency in dealing with clients financial affairs. I am therefore
concerned that as the checks would no longer exist, the possibility
of fraud would increase.
It is often necessary to contact the Public
Trust Office to seek advice or guidance on a specific problem
that has occurred, personally I have always found them extremely
helpful, and able to offer guidance or a course of action.
As someone who relies on the Public Trust Office
for advice, guidance and support, I would be extremely concerned
if these services were no longer available.
Lyn Charlesworth
Clients Services Manager
31 March 2000
|
