The Launch: Why, Where & How Long

We are pleased to announce the launch of the next Seven Days of Action campaign. It starts on Monday 10th October and will run for the whole week. The week will also see the launch of the 7 Days of Action website, which we hope will be a valuable resource.

The focus will be once again, the human stories of life in ATUs & In-patient services. We hope to keep the pressure on and get people into homes of their own.

We still need to hear peoples’ stories. We want to hear about the type of treatment that is given. We want to hear about how families are treated whilst their loved ones are detained. We want to hear about day to day life in the Units. We want to know what life is like after discharge – do the wounds heal?

We’ve been contacted by lots of people since April. Each desperate to tell their story and get their family member home. We asked everyone, the same three questions:

1. What led to you/your family member being detained in an ATU?

2. How long were you/your family member detained for?

3. How far was the ATU from your usual home?

For today’s launch, here is a role call of 35 human beings.  None of them have committed a crime. Some have been released; several are still detained with no release date on the horizon. Some names have been changed as protection from repercussions:

Robert:

1. Breakdown in residential home placement.

2. 17 months.

3. 230 miles.

Connor:

1. Breakdown in transition from children’s to adult services.

2. 8 months (ongoing).

3. 25 miles.

Stephen:

1. Breakdown of residential school placement.

2. 3 years, 7 months (ongoing).

3. 70 miles.

Joe:

1. Review of medication.

2. 8 months.

3. 140 miles.

Claire:

1. Breakdown in specialist autism placement

2. 2 years, 3 months

3. 235 miles

Thomas:

1. Mother requested support in the home.

2. 3 years + (Thomas died in the Unit).

3. 80 miles.

Jamie:

1. Reaction to medication changes & breakdown of residential placement.

2. 19 months.

3. 100 miles.

James:

1. Incident in the community.

2. 2 years.

3. 10 miles.

Timmy:

1. Treatment for physical condition.

2. 5 years (ongoing)

3. 100 miles.

Jack:

1.  Lack of education/support services in local area.

2. 10 months.

3. 67 miles.

Steven:

1. Went to respite for 3 days as father was ill & moved a day later to ATU.

2. 358 days.

3. 1 mile.

Alex:

1. Assessment for help with self harming.

2. 20 months (ongoing).

3. 56 miles.

Jonathon:

1. Respite whilst father had operation.

2. 5 years, 3 months (ongoing).

3. 300+ miles.

Lucy:

1. Breakdown of education placement.

2. 2 years.

3. 15 miles.

Danny:

1. Lack of local support for challenging Behaviours.

2. 4 years (ongoing).

3. 250 miles.

Asad:

1. Moved from respite whilst mother in hospital.

2. 2 years, 6 months (ongoing)

3. 15 miles

Andy:

1. Went for temporary respite whilst home adaptions took place.

2. 10 months (ongoing).

3. 5 miles.

Aiden:

1. Bespoke support needed.

2. 22 months.

3. 45 miles.

Kelvin:

1. Period of unsettled behaviour.

2. 9 months

3. 170 miles.

George:

1. Breakdown of school placement.

2. 16 months.

3. 60 miles.

Jacqui:

1. Breakdown of supported living placement.

2. 14 months.

3. Close to home.

Paco:

1. Home support agency withdrew contract.

2. 2 years, 10 months (ongoing).

3. 145 miles.

Eden:

1. Lack of education/home support.

2. 8 years (ongoing).

3. 170 miles.

Roland:

1. Breakdown of school placement.

2. 10 months (ongoing)

3. 45 miles.

Robbie:

1. Family became homeless.

2. 1 year, 4 months (ongoing).

3. 155 miles.

Arthur:

1. Supported living provider withdrew from contract.

2. 1 year, 10 months (ongoing).

3. 95 miles.

Ryan:

1. Mother was ill and asked for some respite.

2. 1 year & 4 months (ongoing).

3. 30 miles.

Adam:

1. Group home closed.

2. 3 years & 6 months.

3. 160 miles.

Connor:

1. Lack of local support services.

2. 107 days (died through neglect in the unit).

3. Close to home.

Franklin:

1. Group home closed after failed inspection.

2. 14 months (ongoing).

3. 27 miles.

Joel:

1. Abuse at supported living placement.

2. 20 months (ongoing).

3. 82 miles.

Samantha:

1. Breakdown of school placement.

2. 7 months (ongoing)

3. 110 miles.

Tianze:

1. For short term assessment to assess needs for Transition.

2. 2 1/2 years (ongoing)

3. 200+ miles.

Emmanuel:

1. Mother held in immigration detention centre.

2. 2 years, 10 months.

3. 260 miles.

Joseph:

1. Breakdown in home support package.

2. 10 months (ongoing).

3. 235 miles.

Eddie:

1. Lack of appropriate local services.

2. 4 years.

3. 300 miles.

If you want us to include your story in the October 7 Days of Action (by name or anonymously), please contact us on:

Email: ourstories@sevendaysofaction.net

Twitter: @Ofaction7

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/7daysofaction/?fref=nf

Or leave a comment here on this blog.

Many thanks.