Housing

[Joannehymers]

What is the next step for a family who has their adult son living with them and has multiple needs with a severe learning difficulty. They are finding it increasingly hard for them to manage and are becoming overwhelmed. Many thanks

[Sarah_Mencap]

Hello

Welcome and thanks for posting.

It would be worth asking their local authority (council) to help. They will be able to assess what they need and how best to get the support. This sort of help is sometimes called social care - here is a bit more information about it mencap.org.uk/advice-and-su...

Their son may already have a social worker. If so, then they would be a good person to ask.

The family are carers, even if they don't call themselves this, and they could contact their local carers centre (see carers.org/ and use the postcode search to see what is available nearby). They may have an advisor who can talk to them about their situation.

It sounds like this much be taking a toll on all their health too. Another way to get help and support is via their GP.

Finally, get in touch with our Learning Disability Helpline and one of our trained advisors will be able to have a chat and help. Call them on 0808 808 1111 or find out more here - mencap.org.uk/advice-and-su...

I hope this helps a little. It can be so hard when things all get a bit too much. Asking for help before there is a crisis will make things better for everyone involved. Please don't be put off by the pandemic. The help is still out there even if you can't see people face to face.

Best wishes

Sarah

[LDAutie]

Hi, I woud say respite care.The reason being, I was first started off in respite so I coud get used to living in the long term wing of an institution, I coud never have moved out without that slow change over time.

However I have classic autism (non verbal) as well as mild learning disability,so it depends on him really and his ability to cope with change.

So before moving into his own home of some form,

There’s also day services and specialist colleges (many of which have onsite residential and supported living) I attend a day service,also used to go to a specialist residential college as a day case but I was moved a bit to far away-my day service are only operating for those who live at home without outside care so people like me who have 24hr constant care will be the last to get back there.

You can then move onto residential or supported housing.

I recommend supported housing as it can be adapted to most needs if their social services team properly fight for them and don’t just see them as being easier to have their needs met by being put in residential.

In residential care,you lose the care part of DLA/PIP and are only allowed something like £23 spends for the whole week as you are thought to have all needs met by residential which wasn’t true in my case,although the best placement I ever had was my last residential.

Social services do something called tendering, which is when the persons care package is advertised and organisations all fight for the package,social services pick the cheapest care out of three,so be aware of this and don’t be fobbed off with a horrible place that does not meet his needs,this happened to me so often and I was classed as severely challenging and a burden to both staff and other service users because my needs were not met and I was being placed in really bad residential services.

In the end,for me in January 2016 after months of being sectioned in a learning disability hospital,they decided to give me my own place within a supported living facility,with high levels of support sat with me,24 hrs a day,and secure locks and alarms on all doors, their reason for placing me in my own place was that I don’t live well with others,that was their excuse for ignoring high complex needs.

[Skye_Bear Expert]

Good Morning,

My name is Lyndsey and I am a Contact & Assessment Team Advisor on The Mencap Learning Disability Helpline.

In order for them to get the best support and to find him suitable accommodation, they will need to ask The Adult Social Services Team for a needs assessment. If you click on the link that Sarah has provided this will give you all the information they would need to know. If he is entitled to 15hrs or more support a week then Mencap may be able to provide this service.

If they feel he would be better suited to a more independent living with some support in place then please take a look at the link provided :- mencap.org.uk/advice-and-su... .

Please take a look at our Golden Lane housing which the link will provide you with all the information they would need for their next steps.

I hope this helps you in some way, you can also contact or you can give them our freephone Helpline number 0808 808 1111 or they can alternatively email The Helpline on [e-mail] or fill out a webform on the link provided :-

mencap.org.uk/contact/conta...

Stay safe and well this Christmas period.

Lyndsey M

Contact & Assessment Team Advisor

The Learning Disability Helpline.