by annie » 23 Sep 2015, 08:48
This article has made me really angry.
My friend , has been battling with Lancs County Council for 3 years re residential care for her severely autistic son. Over the last few months his condition has deteriorated markedly, regressed and developed OCD behaviour. He is 16 & big - extremely violent. he ripped a radiator off the wall ( central heating on & hot water everywhere, he has smashed the tv, broken their solid fuel burner, their gas fire and their settee and chair. Walls have holes in them where he has kicked them, , he even managed to damage his safe room. She is often covered in bruises. He is a danger to himself and everyone in the house . The day school he attended can no longer cope with him & carers can no longer handle him, so they have been caring at home 24/7 with no help. At the last incident she rang the crisis team who just told her to ring the police. The child psychologist and psychiatrist have supported her & written that he needs specialist residential care. He is now in an assessment facility 3 hours away,which means a 6 hour round trip every weekend. He can only stay 3 months and he has already been there 6 weeks Social workers do no turn up for meetings They had an MDT meeting yesterday as he is no better & professionals say he is umlikely to be in the future& discharge imminent. They have agreed he is a danger to himself and others and LCC & Social worker have not yet agreed to a permanent residential place.
This family's treatment has been abysmal & I fear for my friends sanity and safety. MP is now involved but no nearer a solution