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| Disabled children with behavioural issues 'hidden away' | Disabled children with behavioural issues 'hidden away' |
| (6 days later) | |
| Disabled children in England with severe behavioural and complex mental health issues are being "separated and hidden" from society, a review warns. | Disabled children in England with severe behavioural and complex mental health issues are being "separated and hidden" from society, a review warns. |
| The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) says these children should not be put into institutions at an early age. | The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) says these children should not be put into institutions at an early age. |
| Such a move costs the taxpayer dear and gives youngsters low ambitions for improving their lives, the CDC says. | Such a move costs the taxpayer dear and gives youngsters low ambitions for improving their lives, the CDC says. |
| However, the review, commissioned by the Department of Health, acknowledged ministers had not ignored this group. | However, the review, commissioned by the Department of Health, acknowledged ministers had not ignored this group. |
| It praised government initiatives brought in after the abuse of people with learning disabilities was uncovered at Winterbourne View private hospital near Bristol. | It praised government initiatives brought in after the abuse of people with learning disabilities was uncovered at Winterbourne View private hospital near Bristol. |
| However, the CDC concluded there was no clear vision for the treatment of children with complex needs involving challenging behaviour, mental health problems, learning disabilities and autism. | However, the CDC concluded there was no clear vision for the treatment of children with complex needs involving challenging behaviour, mental health problems, learning disabilities and autism. |
| It said a lack of accountability across a fragmented care system was depriving these children of their right to an education and community and family life. | It said a lack of accountability across a fragmented care system was depriving these children of their right to an education and community and family life. |
| A mother's story | A mother's story |
| "It was like my world fell apart. Eddie was young, all alone and being locked in a room," says mother-of-four Adele Hanlon. | "It was like my world fell apart. Eddie was young, all alone and being locked in a room," says mother-of-four Adele Hanlon. |
| "The feeling that I had failed him was overwhelming, and knowing I could not be there to comfort him was devastating." | "The feeling that I had failed him was overwhelming, and knowing I could not be there to comfort him was devastating." |
| Her son, Eddie, 17, has been diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyspraxia and is being detained under the Mental Health Act. | Her son, Eddie, 17, has been diagnosed with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and dyspraxia and is being detained under the Mental Health Act. |
| He is currently being treated in a specialist hospital unit in Newcastle - 300 miles away from his home in Bristol - as this was the nearest suitable institution with a spare place. | He is currently being treated in a specialist hospital unit in Newcastle - 300 miles away from his home in Bristol - as this was the nearest suitable institution with a spare place. |
| "We are only able to visit monthly, and due to the distance we fly to the hospital," says Adele. | "We are only able to visit monthly, and due to the distance we fly to the hospital," says Adele. |
| "He looks forward to a visit, but towards the end of his visit he becomes upset. | "He looks forward to a visit, but towards the end of his visit he becomes upset. |
| "When we leave he becomes distressed and needs a lot of additional support." | "When we leave he becomes distressed and needs a lot of additional support." |
| The CDC review criticised regional discrepancies in care provision for children. | The CDC review criticised regional discrepancies in care provision for children. |
| "The current geographical spread of in-patient provision does not represent the population needs both in geography and in capacity," it said. | "The current geographical spread of in-patient provision does not represent the population needs both in geography and in capacity," it said. |
| "There is no suitable placement available for young people living in London and the South East or throughout the South West." | "There is no suitable placement available for young people living in London and the South East or throughout the South West." |
| The report also noted that affected children were more likely to come from poorer families and live in challenging circumstances. | The report also noted that affected children were more likely to come from poorer families and live in challenging circumstances. |
| 'Hidden from society' | 'Hidden from society' |
| CDC director Dame Christine Lenehan said: "When I left practice in 1997, I could walk round my authority looking at small children and knowing that the chances of them going out of the authority area - often to a placement a considerable distance away, aged 11, 12 or 13 - was high. | CDC director Dame Christine Lenehan said: "When I left practice in 1997, I could walk round my authority looking at small children and knowing that the chances of them going out of the authority area - often to a placement a considerable distance away, aged 11, 12 or 13 - was high. |
| "Their diagnosis at age two or before was the indicator to the challenges they would face, and yet they followed a path which institutionalised them during their teenage years and condemned them to a life hidden from society, away from their families, at huge financial cost to the taxpayer and with very poor outcomes." | "Their diagnosis at age two or before was the indicator to the challenges they would face, and yet they followed a path which institutionalised them during their teenage years and condemned them to a life hidden from society, away from their families, at huge financial cost to the taxpayer and with very poor outcomes." |
| Dame Lenehan said it was often an "act of last resort" that saw this group of disabled children sent away from their home communities into long-term placements. | Dame Lenehan said it was often an "act of last resort" that saw this group of disabled children sent away from their home communities into long-term placements. |
| "Hidden and separated from the rest of society, these children become special cases, for whom the aspirations we have for other children and young people don't apply," she said. | "Hidden and separated from the rest of society, these children become special cases, for whom the aspirations we have for other children and young people don't apply," she said. |
| "We urgently need a shift in thinking." | "We urgently need a shift in thinking." |
| A Department of Health spokesman said it was working to ensure more young people have the right support in the right place with its Transforming Care programme, and had invested £1.4bn in children and young people's mental health. | |
| "But, we know that more needs to be done. That's why we commissioned this report, and we thank Dame Christine for her excellent work. | "But, we know that more needs to be done. That's why we commissioned this report, and we thank Dame Christine for her excellent work. |
| "We will be working with key organisations across health, education and local government to look at each of her recommendations in detail, and will respond fully in due course." | "We will be working with key organisations across health, education and local government to look at each of her recommendations in detail, and will respond fully in due course." |
| Sarah Lambert head of policy at the National Autistic Society, said: "The findings of this report will be deeply concerning for families. | |
| "It's clear from our conversations with parents and carers of children on the autism spectrum with very complex needs that there's often not appropriate mental health support near where they live. | |
| "Unfortunately, this means that far too many children have to travel long distances, or are admitted to hospitals far from their families, to get the specialist support they need." |