suzyna

[Claysculpture]

For the last year my son who has severe LD is spending 3 nights a week in his own flat with overnight support. Given his changed circumstances , nearly two years ago I requested a new assessment and funding for him to live permanently in his flat with some weekends with me - and with some shared care with another person in the upstairs flat (there are just the two flats in the building). The social worker seems to be dragging this out with requests for autism diagnosis, OT input (twice), etc.. They do not want to provide support for him overnight and are saying he can be alone in the flat using technology, alarms, etc. (Despite him being virtually non verbal and there being no-one to respond to any alarms. (They are comparing the risks to him to those of a 91-year old lady with dementia left alone overnight!).

Does anyone else have experience of this sort of technology overnight? Any thoughts please.

[Eeviee]

hello. My sons situation is different but here are a few things to consider. My son is a vulnerable person who has put himself at risk by sneaking out at night in the small hours without anyone knowing. When he was at college they wanted to put an alarm on his bedroom door but he objected and might have left college if they had insisted and it was a deprivation of his Liberty. After a best interests assessment by the local authority I successfully arranged for waking night support at college and he has had it ever since even after returning to our local area and living in supported living. Look at your sons care plan and his current needs. I would think given the fact that his parents are ageing he needs his own independence before it becomes a crisis. I hope this helps you.

[LearningLot in reply to Eeviee]

Can I ask how it was discovered that he was sneaking out?

[Eeviee in reply to LearningLot]

He got arrested by the police as he innocently wandered onto private land. He was let go obviously but it was clear that the care home staff had no idea that he had gone out at night alone.

[Jofisher]

would he be entitled to an independent mental capacity advocate IMCA for short if he lacks mental capacity or does he have mental capacity ? Could he pay for a consultant social worker to fight for you both ?

[Tracidu]

This is terrible . How on earth do they comparer him to a 91 year old dementia person . My mother had severe dementia and she couldnt be left alone overnight or in the day , the same as my SLD son . There is all different stages of both dementia and SLD and if you think your son needs full support then thats what it should be ,. It beggers belief that they can come to that decision , you know your son best ... . My son, who although physically ok has no idea what day it is , he needs literally everything done for him and is a danger to himself if left alone , the same with my mother . If your son is non verbal and SLD as mine is how on earth do they think he will he cope on his own . Technology is not for everyone , do they think your son has the ability to use it ? .

Sorry Im not much help . This is very worrying especially for people who have no one in thier corner . I hope you get all the help for your son needs .