How do I go about filing a complaint about our social worker?

Lee, you'll have to provide more information. Is this social worker part of a home health care team? At a facility? Provided through a county level service?

What is the purpose and duration of her involvement? How has she "wreaked havoc"? What (false) assumptions and accusations has she made?

I'm been through 2 situations like this, and this is what I did. I had home health care post rehab, with a nurse, PT, OT, SP, and a social worker, the latter of whom I agreed to only b/c I thought she might have some information that could be useful. I had already meet with previous social workers through also previous home health care teams.

Both of these SWs, with different home care agencies, became aggressive and insistent that they needed to come visit my father the first week of care. I disagreed, and made it clear that nursing and therapy were higher priorities, which they were.

The SWs were unrelenting, literally harassing me. I later learned that some agencies put pressure on their care workers to get out to the client the first week and get started.

I eventually told the first SW that we just didn't have time for her, particularly since I had already gotten a lot of information and did my own research. Eventually she accepted that and went away quietly.

The second worker was more aggressive, eventually threatening me and hinting about APS involvement, stating that if they (meaning her agency) were ever involved witih APS intervention, she would make it clear I refused to cooperate. She also said she would also advise the scripting physician that I "refused to cooperate" with her.

Both of them stated, after I told them repeatedly that they couldn't come a particular week b/c therapy was a higher priority, that when they did come, they needed to see lists of assets so they could determine what assistance might be available. I told them that was privileged information, and that they could tell me what the various qualifications for assistance were and I would make the determination. (Remember, I had already been through this, including going through the VA.)

They were insistent, especially the second one. I finally told her it was none of her business what my father's assets were and that there was no way she was going to get a portfolio list. I told her she could tell me what criteria were for help and my father and I would make the determination whether or not to pursue that avenue of assistance.

That really incensed her. It was clear that she wanted control over that aspect and that she didn't think I was qualified to make a determination what might be appropriate for Dad. I think she was a "control freak.

This was an agency that had a presence at the rehab facility at which my father had been getting treatment. I told that advance recruiter about my experience and complained about the SW. I don't know whether she took any action b/c by then home care was almost done.

When I needed it again, I contacted the advance recruiter and told her I would like to hire her agency but refused to have the SW involved in any way, and made it clear that if she was, that agency would never get our business.

No problem, the SW was out of the picture and the agency provided good people although one PT had no real experience with older people.

So I would suggest you first provide more information so posters can offer specific suggestions, and think about who hired this SW, and why, and if you haven't already, document the actions and statements that have caused friction. Then go up the corporate ladder to find someone who has the authority to reign her in.

In the meantime, I don't see why you can't just tell her her services are no longer needed (or wanted!).

Many social workers, if they are licensed at the clinical level, are established as Medicare, Medicaid or private insurer providers. This makes all of their visits and reporting billable by the agency for whom they are working. Some agencies are very demanding of their social workers to get as many hours as possible billable. Requesting assets is routine, but no one should ever provide this information unless there is specific reason for doing so.

I would first report to the agency or facility who employs the social worker. If the problem does not improve, I would report to the state licensing board.