My son has lived in a specialized residential care home for nine years. This home, with its team of devoted 24/7 carers, has been his life, his sanctuary, and given him a quality of life that he wouldn't be able to experience elsewhere. It has taken over a decade to get my son to the mental and secure place he is at now but despite this, the local council has chosen to refuse to pay the uplifted rate requested by his care provider and  the much needed cost for his bespoke care, threatening to uproot my son from the home he loves and knows. 

In the last eight years, the council increased its funding to the care home provider by only 16%, insufficient to cover the rising costs of high-quality, personalised care that my son and others like him require. They have used a “costing tool” to come to this decision rather than basing the decision on the actual person involved, not taking into account the impact this Would have on his life or his best interests. Now they have refused to uplift funding altogether. Without the necessary funding my son faces a 28-day notice before being evicted from his home and losing his placement. Currently this notice will end in the 8th of December 2024 unless the council negotiate adequately with the care providers. 

Statistically, individuals with severe disabilities who receive consistent care in a familiar environment tend to have better mental and emotional stability. With this in mind, it is crucial to understand that removing my son from his known environment and support staff that he has built up many years of trust with, will cause drastic negative effects on his mental well-being, and extremely challenging behaviours, an aspect that he will not fully understand due to his disabilities. 

I urge you, the council, to reconsider your refusal to uplift the funding in line with his individual needs and remember the lives that are at stake. The system should protect those vulnerable and ensure they receive the necessary care without fear of losing it. Together, we can stand against the funding cut and safeguard the future of the severely disabled like my son. Please, sign our petition to secure permanent funding for lifelong care.