Adult autistic son being moved from supported housing

Fernjay

My 36 year old Asperger son has lived in NAS supported housing near to family for 12 years. Previously he lived in residential for one year but was moved by social services for financial saving. Has struggled to cope over years developing increasingly severe anxiety treated with medications and cbt. Two years ago a severe reaction to medication changes resulted in him being unable to leave the house ever since. Now NAS are saying they 'cannot meet his needs' so asked social services to find a new placement. SS won't pay for residential place which he clearly needs and is near family. What can we do? 

Chloe_Scope

Hi @Fernjay and a very warm welcome to the community. I'm sorry to hear about how your sons care is being handled, that must be very frustrating!

Has he being offer a placement that is further away? I appreciate that this isn't ideal!

Here is some information about how to challenge the decision about what is suitable for your son. There is also the link to the National Autistic Society which also might be able to offer more information.

Please do let us know if there is anything else we can do and keep us updated.

Sam_Scope

Hi @Fernjay
Welcome to the community and I am sorry to hear you are having such a difficult time. The link that Chloe shared above is great to find out more about how to challenge that decision.
I hope some of our members will be along soon to share their experiences.

April2018mom

I am tagging @SparkleSheffieldAutismAdvisors as they might be able to help you. Alternatively ask the national autism society for guidance, their website is useful in terms of resources as well. You can find their helpline number on this page https://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/about-us/contact-us.aspx

Chloe_Scope

Hi @Fernjay, how are you getting on? 

Fernjay

Asked for a meeting with NAS and Social services so our views and our sons feelings could be considered. Should have been invited to previous meetings. All family, parents brother and sister attended also his phsichiatrist. Managed to stall any move at present as he is physically unwell and needs hospital visit which is taking priority as he has been unable to leave house for 2 years due to extreme anxiety.

Chloe_Scope

Hi @Fernjay, thank you for updating us. I hope the meetings go well and things can be put in place for your son. Please do let us know how they go and if there is anything else we can do to help.

Fernjay

While a nurse has been working with our son to prepare him for hospital visit social services have contacted a provider who are looking into offering a placement in a 5 bed one bathroom supported house for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. The fact that his phsichiatrist, other professionals key worker and family agree that he needs 24 hour autism specific support with clear structure and boundaries seems to have been totally disregarded. What are his rights? Can he be evicted from his current placement with the NAS to somewhere we feel not suitable when there could be a residential placement within the same service where he was previously. What can we his family do? 

WhileIBreathIHope

Fernjay said:

While a nurse has been working with our son to prepare him for hospital visit social services have contacted a provider who are looking into offering a placement in a 5 bed one bathroom supported house for people with mental health problems and learning disabilities. The fact that his phsichiatrist, other professionals key worker and family agree that he needs 24 hour autism specific support with clear structure and boundaries seems to have been totally disregarded. What are his rights? Can he be evicted from his current placement with the NAS to somewhere we feel not suitable when there could be a residential placement within the same service where he was previously. What can we his family do? 

Get EVERYTHING in writing get a Subject Access Requests under GPDR these can be verbal- check what is being said as often there is detailed information not given.

Ask for risk assessments and make it clear your concerns and that you will pursue either with courts or local MP.

Fernjay

Thank you for your prompt reply. What is a Subject Access request and what does GPDR stand for?

WhileIBreathIHope

SAR is all data an organisation holds on you
bar an ID check your application can be verbal.

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/individual-rights/right-of-access/

often individuals in an organisation think your never see their comments and it can prove useful to hold organisation accountable if they recognised an issue and choose to tell you they don’t

https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/individual-rights/right-of-access/

Do council/ nhs and NAS

Shocking NAS behaviour and directly linked to funding as a biter locally with high funding kept on when staff bitten to the bone- I know this for a fact

Fernjay

Since December NAS have offered place in their local residential house and prepared comprehensive care and support plan. Simple move 5minutes walk from his supported living house, same staff who have known him years, he has friends there and lived there before for a year before he was moved to supported house by Social services. S S still rejecting offer but have no other providers able or prepared to meet his needs. NAS cannot hold place forever so time is running out. What now? Put in complaint against SS but investigation didn't tell us anything new so no help. 

Chloe_Scope

Really sorry to hear this @Fernjay. How have things been recently? I know it's been a tough time for people.