Transition - A compromise
M attended residential college on a three year placement 160 miles from home. The family assumed that they would need to plan the move from college to the next phase.
M's parents discussed his future with college and with Connexions at his annual review at the end of his first year and at the beginning of his final years at college.
"They were very helpful, but the time slot allowed was an hour and a half so it was a little rushed. They were good at explaining options, warning the parents of obstacles and providing contact details.
"Connexions had good advice and provided useful contacts but we had to do the chasing. No one from social services attended any of M's college reviews, and we never saw any Supported Housing Officers or Disability Employment Officers. However, we did contact Paradigm [an organisation committed to helping people with learning disabilities plan their future http://www.paradigm-uk.org/] who were very helpful."
The family started planning (with encouragement from M's college) two years before he was due to leave college. The plan was for M to live in supported housing in his local area with support for employment, further education, leisure and social opportunities.
"We wrote to the local authority to inform them of M's need for housing and support services, but reasons were given as to why it was not necessary for M's care plan to be completed until six months before he was due to leave college. We thought that this was too late and by challenging the reasons, got the meeting brought forward."
Once the relationship was established, M's social worker was very supportive although final provision was seemingly dictated by budgets. The social worker produced a supportive Care Plan and the parents' comments were added to the first draft and taken on board.
The plan had to go before the housing panel, but there was a long way to go before funding was approved. The parents had to find out more about the type of house M could be living in and how they could be sure that his flatmates would be a suitable peer group.
"We spoke to as many people as possible - some of the most useful being the DSA - who put us in contact with other parents who had been in a similar position and local Mencap groups"
They asked the local council for a list of approved housing providers and visited with M anything that met their criteria (there wasn't much). M's reaction helped reinforce what they were looking for. They also looked outside the county and fed back anything with potential to the local authority so that there was no chance that M could be forgotten.
"When we asked to visit possible housing options we were told it was not possible as the residents had a right to privacy. So we asked if the residents could be asked if they would mind showing M and his parents around. Needless to say, they were delighted to do so!"
They were given details of a supported employment scheme nine months before M was due to return to the county. The waiting list at that time was a year long and they were told that social services should have referred earlier. Although M registered he never heard further.
"The care assessment and subsequent support was appropriate, although we think it helped because we were clear about what we wanted."
Despite monthly Panel meetings, repeated promises and an agreement to prioritise M for local housing when he left college, it was clear that things would not be in place by the time M left college even though they had been planning for two years. Each month the parents had to chase to find out what the Panel's decision was.
M began to talk about the end of college and what he would be doing from July - but no-one could tell him. Early in the New Year, college reported that M was becoming unsettled. Then M's transition manager at college was informed that the local authority was not planning to house M until the following Christmas (despite the consistent reassurances received).
"We lodged an official complaint against the Council with the DSA providing some valuable advice on legal grounds to support the case. The council responded and the complaints committee appeared to accept they were acting in good faith. However, despite best intentions (and we do believe that those whom they were in contact with at the local authority did want to do the best for M) nothing firm was being put in place."
Meanwhile, the college were becoming increasingly concerned regarding M's behaviour. Another complaint was issued - the DSA wrote to the Council expressing concerns about how M's transition was being handled and the effect it may be having on his mental health.
"Regular discussions now took place with the Executive Manager of Learning Disability Services who called us in May to propose that a place had been identified that met our criteria close to the college he currently attended. This would be funded by the council until such time as a more suitable place was found closer to home."
M's place was finally confirmed in July 2008, just a few days before his graduation ceremony from college.
"So far, M is very much enjoying and benefiting from his new life. The only downside is the distance from home. Unfortunately there is nothing comparable that we are aware of near to where we live."