To think ds should be allowed back to college

[Reasons70]

Ds was sent home from his residential college placement nearly three months ago. After an overdose. He’s had his medication looked at and is now stable and fully engaging with his team. We have a letter from his worker at the mental health team confirming that. Aibu to think three months is quite a long time and things can change in that time and people shouldn’t be judged on a risk months ago?

Was the overdose accidental or deliberate?

If he did it deliberately, they're probably afraid that if he tries it again and succeeds they'll be liable for failing in their duty of care.

He did it on purpose. I thought as long as there were risk assessments in place they would be covered.

What have the college said? You've given no details about what they've said.

It depends on his course of study - he might have to de-grade and start again next year if he's missed 3 months of study.

x post. They're not covered by a risk assessment. Imagine working somewhere with young adults and you enter a room to teach and come across a suicide attempt. That sort of trauma can end a teaching career. They need to protect your son from harm, but they also need to protect their staff.

There's very little info
How old is he
Was the overdose at college
How much work has he missed
How's his attendace \behaviour \ attitude usually

On the very limited details you've given, it's impossible to say.

I understand that you all want to put this behind you and move back to a normal routine, but three months really isn't very long at all.

They probably think it's too much responsibility, and yes, three months isn't very long. Maybe it was the pressure of doing the course that sent him over the edge?

Is the impetus to return to study his or what is expected of him?

Was the studying too much for him and triggered his decline in mental health?

Would the option of a different course be available?

Missing three months is an awful lot of catching up which would be stressful.

He’s been doing work at home. He’s very well behaved and polite engages really well.

We have been thinking it might be best for him to return in September when it will be six months ago but he’s keen to go now.

He’s 19 so an adult as oppose to a child which I’m assuming would require more safeguarding input.

Have you posted about this before? I think I remember a very similar thread.

No I haven’t.

Is it a specialist residental college? If so is he being funded by your local authority? If so I think you will need to contact them to make sure they will continue to fund him if he needs to redo the year.

The summer term might be an odd time to return as many students are on study leave and/or doing exams, so it might be better for him to wait until September if he can and repeat the year.

Yes it and it’s still named on his ehcp. As he’s not been exclude formally.

Has anyone got any further advice? Or are trained in mental health so could give advice from that point of view. I would be very grateful

Changed username as my son sure what my username on here was.