I WISH to express my extreme anger and concern at the decision by Devon County Council to possibly close the much valued respite unit Haldon View in Exeter.
I have had contact from several parents struggling to take in this devastating news who are too tired to fight another loss of service.
I offer my full support to stop this happening. These parents have already experienced the closure and changes in valued day services over the last few years – this is just another nail in their coffin.
Following the Valuing People agenda 2001, the four key principles supposedly at its heart were rights, independence, choice and inclusion.
Within this philosophy and the belief outdated residential institutions should be closed, there was a drive to support comprehensive and appropriate options with a strong recognition that adequate respite was vital for the parents who would otherwise bear the burden of community care 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Choice is a big part of that.
Places such as Haldon View are a life line for such carers/parents, giving them special time with their partners and other children, and for themselves, but also giving the learning disabled person special time with their friends in an environment where they are known and any challenging behaviours understood.
I understand alternative respite may be offered in Honiton, a round trip of at least 30 miles if you live in Exeter or on the borders, before the respite even starts. It is adding more stress to the situation. Time you have travelled the Journey it is time to go back again.
Another major issue is that change severely upsets our people, especially those with autistic spectrum disorders who do not tolerate this. Such change can easily lead to challenging behaviour, distress and sleepless nights, upsetting the whole family environment. Many of our families have seen a general erosion of valued services over the last few years with closure of day services, another form of respite, reducing numbers, respite rationed and options.
The interesting question you may wish to ask Devon County Council is "how many families are now asking for permanent care of their person at much younger ages?"
My daughter is one who is now in residential care way before I planned.
Other families I have been close to have gone down this road with children only in their 20s because the closures were so worrying in daytime care.
I have a background as a social worker walking the journey with families of the learning disabled from birth to adulthood This is a retrograde step, given the many families still coming through the system. They need the support of the media to stop this happening in Exeter or elsewhere.
Mrs Anne Brand
↧