Faizal Kaji and Salma Kaji are disabled siblings with severe physical disabilities living in Leicester.

They are both adults aged 57 and 50 years respectively. They are both completely blind from birth, and permanent wheelchair users. They have zero weight bearing capabilities; both their legs are bent inwards. They are completely dependent requiring support to eat and drink (through a straw), bathing and washing, to go to bed, removing and putting on their clothes. In addition, Faizal has learning disability and Salma suffers from Behrs Syndrome; a debilitating condition meaning both her hands shake vigorously which is getting worse with age. In addition, Salma from a young age has and continues to suffer from night traumas, which means she would wake up in the middle of the night screaming in bed. She will have no idea where she is and who she is surrounded by until someone comes to her aid to comfort her, offer her a glass of water and remind her of where she is. This could take up to 30 minutes per episode. Unfortunately, there is no medication that can help or support her.

Faizal and Salma have lived with their family all their life. The family consisted of another brother, and 2 parents. Upon the sudden and unexpected death of both their parents in February 2019 and July 2019, they were placed in temporary respite by their brother. The onset of Covid-19 and other uncontrollable factors unfortunately prolonged Faizal and Salma stay at respite. However, their brother has now made arrangements for Faizal and Salma to return to familiar surroundings. They have put forward a care plan that includes the provision of 24-hour community care which is crucial. The social services are refusing to support the 24-hour care provision if Faizal and Salma were to return to live with their brother. 

The alternative suggested by social services is to place Faizal and Salma in supported living, where they would receive the 24-hour care provision. 

Supported living  has been rejected by Faizal, Salma and their brother.

Reasons for Petition:

• Family Bond: Faizal and Salma have a deep and irreplaceable bond with their brother and family, which is crucial for their emotional and mental well-being.
• Tailored Support: The family has designed a care plan that is tailored to meet the specific needs of Faizal and Salma, providing a more personalised and compassionate approach than institutionalised care.
• Quality of Life and Mental Health: Living with family will significantly improve their quality of life, mental health and wellbeing offering a loving, supportive, and familiar environment.
• Home Comfort: Faizal and Salma have lived with their brother all their lives and feel the comfort and security of "home" when with their family. This is invaluable to their well-being.
• Day Centre Access: Faizal and Salma enjoy their time at the Day Centre immensely, which provides them with social interaction and engagement with like-minded peers and colleagues that supported living cannot replicate.
• Salma’s Night Traumas: Salma has suffered from night traumas from a very young age, as evidenced by her GP records. The care home where she (and Faizal) temporarily resides has also noted these concerns, as expressed by their brother at the time of admission. Salma requires personal support during these episodes, which can occur a few times a week and last up to 30 minutes. These episodes are physically and mentally draining on her. She is not in a state of mind to be able to deal with these episodes without support.
• Human Rights Violations: Forcing Faizal and Salma into supported living against their and their family’s wishes violates their fundamental human rights.
• Economic, Social and Financial Considerations: 
  • Higher Costs: supported living incurs significantly higher one off and ongoing costs than compared to living with family.
  • Housing Shortages: there is severe shortage of social housing in Leicestershire and the U.K. Supported living for Faizal and Salma is a complete waste of available social housing stock, which could be rediverted to where it is truly needed.
  • Resource Drain: supported living, where it is not required or needed, is a significant drain on scarce financial resources, impacting funds and potentially increasing local taxes. There needs to be accountability and responsibility for such irresponsible decisions.
  • Cost Effective: the family’s care plan, compared to supported living is effective, is more economical, as well as financially, and socially responsible.
  • Community Care Precedents: similar care plans have been successfully implemented for other local service users in comparable circumstances, demonstrating that it is both feasible and effective.
  • Wider economic, health and wellbeing consideration: living with family under the family’s care plan including 24-hour community care provision at the family home, is more economical, as well as financially, and socially responsible compared to supported living. In addition, Faizal and Salma living with family without the 24-hour care plan in place would mean their brother not going to work, reducing his own tax and national contributions, relying on social security benefits adding further strain on public funding, and impacting on his mental health and wellbeing

We stand in solidarity with Faizal, Salma, and their family in urging Leicester social services to approve the family’s care plan which includes the provision of 24-hour community care at their family home.