The closure of the Day Centre my son, aged 35, has attended for 15 years sounded like an excellent idea when it was introduced 18 months ago. He would for the first time, have the choice of daytime activities that could be tailored to suit him. The reality is that there is little choice and his activities are being led by an organisation that has no previous experience and seems to employ escorts rather than development professionals.
Is there a published standard for the providers of these daytime activities for adults with severe learning disabilities?
As a matter of fact, there are published standards for adult care as you describe. The Care Quality Commission, have published standards for many types of care, including the care of adults with severe learning disabilities. The underlying premise is that adults such as your son deserve safety, privacy and continuous development toward independent living.
First of all, the organisation providing care for your son should have created an individual plan that responds to your son's needs and seeks to achieve certain goals. You should have been involved in the creation of this individual plan. So your expectation of activities tailored to suit him is spot on.
The activities provided by the organisation should be focused on his personal development, especially his decision-making abilities. He should be given the opportunity to "develop social, emotional, communication and independent living skills." Activities should be valued and fulfilling and should include appropriate leisure activities. Instead of restricting his choices, care providers should be creating an environment that encourages individual choice and independent living.
Describe the learning difficulty and we will map out the UK assessment, support and funding routes to pursue.
Try our Learning Support Finder free, here on this site →Rather than simply being paired with an escort as you describe, your son should be interacting with trained personnel who can provide appropriate support in a sensitive and caring manner. His personal, physical and even spiritual needs should be met by the services provided.
Voice Your Concerns
If you are unhappy with the care that your son is receiving, you should begin by voicing your concerns directly to the provider. All providers should be willing to hear your thoughts and respond appropriately. The standards above provide that users' views should be listened to and acted on. If your son's service provider is council-run or his care is paid for by the council, then you should complain to the council as well. If you are not satisfied with the responses at this level, your next step is to contact the Care Quality Commission.
Recent changes in how care is provided and regulated signal an emphasis on meeting the individual needs of persons who need care. If the services provided to your son aren't leading him toward increased independence and fulfilling self-development, then you should definitely take action to communicate your concerns. There's a very good chance your complaints will find sympathetic ears.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
Social services could not help me for reasons of security which is understandable.
The Citizens Advice Bureau forced me to leave a message on their answer phone but they have not responded. A letter sent to the manager of Heather's home has also produced no response.
As her sister I feel I need to be aware of Heather's care. I do not feel Heather is 'doing fine'. My mother told me she deliberately broke a personal photo belonging to the manager of the home. My mother is next of kin. My mother now lives in a care home and is no longer able to make decisions with regards to Heather's care.
Thank you
Sylvia Forster
Ask About Learning Disabilities a question
Ask our editorial team a question and we will reply with our advice. Tell us as much about your situation as you can: the more detail you give, the more useful our answer can be.
You do not need to use your real name. Please do not include your full address, phone number, email address, or the names of other people. We may edit or remove identifying details for privacy and legal reasons.
Comments are moderated before publication.