Today’s blog is about getting support right from the start.
A lot of the time our kids, however big or small, need robust support due to their ‘complex’ needs. They may often challenge those around them and often have chronic health conditions too. This can be a significant challenge and is the main reason why families end up having to ask for help. What happens then is impossible to predict and the stories being shared by the Seven Days campaign very shockingly show what can happen when things go wrong. I desperately hope that every health and care organisation in the Country sees these stories, reflects upon their own practice and makes sure that steps are taken to stop vulnerable people suffering like this from now on.
Clearly those who are diagnosed with acute mental illness will need urgent help, subject to an appropriate Section in accordance with the Mental Health Act and spend some time in an assessment and treatment unit to undergo, you guessed it, assessment and treatment. ATUs are hospitals, not homes therefore we expect periods of treatment to be time limited. For someone with a learning disability, autism and behaviour that challenges those around them this environment is very likely to add to the difficulties being experienced so we need to do everything we can to reduce the numbers being subject to this process.
The System
We know the system’ is broken and needs fixing. I agree with the view that we need radical root and branch change to stop these failures from happening. Since Winterbourne we have been promised this so why are we still waiting? Changes to the law such as those championed by the LB Bill supporters last year could make a huge difference but significant change to policy and procedures also needs to happen to make sure that ‘Team’ in this context sets up the right conditions in which the right support can be provided as close to home as possible. All this should have happened a long time ago. Getting the right support from the start relies upon the system being person centred, flexible and adaptable so that the services fit around the person and don’t expect the person to fit into the services available.
The Team around Me
Thinking about this subject I reflected on my own son’s needs and because he can’t tell me himself, I had a go at writing a description of the type of team I think he would wish for around him.
This is what I would like please. Because of my difficulties the World is sometimes scary and hard to understand. I want to spend my time with people that I can trust who treat me with respect, are fun to be with and really understand what I need to keep me safe and happy. I want them to help me to live my life the way I want, not just keep me alive. I want you to help me make choices about how I spend my time and to make sure that my needs are met. My family are very important to me and I want to see them regularly.
What do we need to make this happen?
Here are some things that help: Somewhere to live that meets the person’s needs and not just the needs of the commissioning authority or provider. We need commissioners to recognise the role that providers are signing up to deliver and make sure that funding and support are fit for purpose and not just fit for the accounts department. We need staff to be competent in their role and for this we expect training to be suitable, sufficient and relevant. Finally, and really importantly, we need staff to be valued, supported and rewarded properly.
What gets in the way
There is no doubt that sometimes it’s not easy supporting our loved ones. Low pay and poor support for staff can leave them feeling undervalued and demoralised. If staff are not well supported how can they be expected to feel motivated and their expertise appreciated. A lack of training and over reliance upon agency staff will also undermine the whole team effort. This is challenging work, lets do what we can to promote high standards across the board.
I think the only way we can end up with the right support, at the right time, in the right place is to keep up the pressure to try and effect system change whilst helping to influence progress through the NHS Transforming Care programme as this focuses on several of our main aims:
1.empowering individuals
2.right care, right place
3.workforce
4.regulation
5.data.
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