In need of advice please

[Positiveparent25]

Hi there I'm new to this group and was hoping someone can point me in the right direction. I have a 25 year old autistic with learning disabilities and finishes college permanently this July. I have had a social care assessment for her ongoing needs and have not been much support to be honest. I'm requiring 3 nights and 3 days per week respite and for her to stay somewhere,this is so she will get use to being away from me and home and prepare her long term in supported living. Does anyone know where these places are or even exist. At the moment social care are agreeing to 1 night per week, which won't allow her to settle in the appropriate setting. Any support from yourselves I would be most grateful.

[Jofisher]

social services can provide you with a booklet of homes then you can check the latest care quality commission reports on their website. You have every right to challenge what you are being offered and if your in a position to pay for a consultant social worker as they’re so helpful and get them to support and help fight your corner with you.

[Maurice_Mencap Partner]

Hi Positiveparent25 , welcome to our community. If you haven't already, it might be worth getting in touch with our Learning Disability Helpline on 0808 808 1111 or [e-mail] if you prefer. Our trained advisers may be able to offer some advice on your question as well. Hope that helps.

[InclusiveZoom]

Does she like Music? Here is a link to one of our Zoom Music sessions on Friday at 7pm - she would be very welcome

Zoom join link: us06web.zoom.us/j/81843122548

I wish you all the very best, Carol

[Steve__]

If you're looking to find homes, that's going to be a project! Yes, I'd read up on cqc for each place, and check other places run by the same chain, so you have some idea of the pedigree (I personally wouldn't touch a chain with more than 1 in 10 of their homes/services having an iffy rating). Read the reports for the places/services you like. The cqc search is slow, but has good filters for location, ratings, etc. I had to do the searching for SS/SW, who seemed inactive on that front.Be wary of care chain leads rushing you into a placement... They want placements as they mean cash. Take your time to see what's out there and to double check promises.

You may also need to be a little tactical with the young person's choices and expression of them... And check about "capacity". Either way, ideally the place they want would be the best one to have, so it's helpful if that's what they are telling people (rather than something unhelpful based on a showy salespitch, etc!)

If SS are not giving what you're expecting, that's not uncommon, and you may need a firm focus on what you want, and to campaign for it. I've not used a private social worker, but wish I had... Good to have an ally and to know all the corners if the system...

Best to get an informed charity to give you a full briefing. Sometimes the process is smooth and logical... Often it's far more"interesting" then that.

Good luck

[MissStumble]

Hi 😊 firstly you are not alone. Thousands of families in the UK are facing a long term care crisis for their loved ones. Secondly social care has a legal duty of care to provide a person centre care plan. They are already trying to fob you off. The excuse as always will be making good use of tax payers money. Remind them that social workers are paid out of tax payers money. You have a valid reason for needing your young person to access these services. Be wary as someone else has said about offering some blanket support in a large care home as for Autistics in particular this will be extremely distressing and not person centred. Look up L’Arche centres. They are amazing and have the right ethos and nurturing mindset. I am dreading the day I need to do this, both of my children are Autistic and have complex needs.

Next you need to challenge the local authority. I don’t know where you are in the country but find a local disability forum on Facebook and see if there are any advocates or contact Mencap for information on your local area. If by any chance you are in Gloucestershire I can highly recommend The Parent Carer Alliance C.I.C. What type of assessment does your young person have in place? Does it truly represent need but they are not adhering to what that looks like in reality? Or is the assessment woolly and unfit for purpose. You can follow the complaints procedure but would recommend that you do not do this alone as Local Authorities are very well aware of their failings and complicit in gaslighting parent carers so that they don’t have to spend money on properly costed budgets. What you are about to go through should not be underestimated so be kind to yourself and seek support from sound friends or family if you have them available. If not seek help from likeminded people. 1 night a week is not enough for you to manage on your own nor helping for supported living.

So keep quoting duty of care, right to gain as much independence as is appropriate for your young persons ability within the needs of their disability, right to work for yourself, person centred individual care plan for your young person to thrive not just survive. Good luck 👌🌈