Why not the same outrage at the NAS care home abuse story as at Oxfam?

[sickofsocalledexperts]

Just that really. There was terrible abuse of vulnerable autistic and learning disabled adults at the National Autistic Society's Mendip House in Somerset. They were ridden round like horses, fed chillies, slapped and thrown in the swimming pool - all "for a laugh" and by NAS staff in a residential home that they had themselves accredited. The NAS first tried to "bury the bad news' by unveiling it via a new Twitter account with only 21 followers last Friday (marking a new low in PR strategies). And then, when that strategy backfired in spectacular fashion with a huge online backlash, they earnestly promised to be totally transparent and produce a full timeline about who knew what when . This, almost amazingly , they also tried to sneak out on Wednesday with little fanfare and using the same link (it's still up on Facebook, so if you weren't looking, you wouldn't know a new statement has been issued). Jeez, who's doing their PR?

Now sh*t happens, and bad apples turn up in institutions, but it's how quickly and how transparently you deal with them that says whether your organisation prioritises a) making damn sure this kind of abuse never happens again by shining a bright light on what went wrong or b) covering their arses.

As mum to a boy who is autistic and learning disabled, and could never tell me if someone was being nasty to him behind closed doors, I"m appalled not just by what happened at Mendip House but also how they've handled it. It's both dumb and cynical.

Also think the new statement contradicts their earlier PR positioning - that action was immediate once head office were informed of the abuse, but that sadly there were two years before that when "local management" didn't report the abuse upwards. The new timeline is playing some very silly games with wording, which gives me even less confidence that this is in fact true.

Were these poor people left at the mercy of abusive practice for 2 years because the NAS is basically a shower of shi*e?

Two things are for sure: 1) they've damaged their brand even more with this sneaky PR strategy and 2) my beloved boy will set not one foot over the door of an NAS-run school or home.

www.facebook.com/NationalAutisticSociety/

I also hadn't noticed this story. I've been donating to the NAS for a long time. Does anyone have any suggestions of alternative charities relating to autism that are good choices to support?

I’m going to step away from this thread now.

MentalBlank direct your support towards smaller, Autism groups which will be in your area.

I never support large charities, their just like any other business whose main aim is profit. Smaller charities often don't get a look in, it's wrong as often more local charities can offer more directed, hands on support.

For example in our area we have a hospice, it provides masses of support and raises funds from a very, rundown warehouse. All the money raised goes to the hospice. All staff who work in the shop volunteer.

On the other hand cancer research has just opened a massive superstore. God knows what the rent is as it's in a prime location. It has both volunteers and paid staff / managers.

My money has always gone.to the local hospice, I just hope they don't lose out to the shiny looking competition :/

I think the principles behind the MCA are good - but have seem them abused or have seen people become so tied up in knots they start making ludicrous decisions.

Richard Handley’s death was in part caused by misuse/misunderstanding of the MCA.

I’m quite happy to work as part of a multiagency team - we have been doing that without problems all his life, particularly since 2015 when his needs very suddenly became a lot more complex. Good professionals add weight to asking the bean counters for things he needs.
My issue is with someone who has met him once having the power of being the final decision maker & poor providers ignoring Transforming Care and shutting us out. But good professionals are as shocked by their behaviour as I was.

Anyway we should hopefully get health and welfare deputyship soon then we can’t be shut out.

This campaign is VERY relevant to the discussions about mental capacity: what a nonsense that I have to apply to a court to still be Mum to my boy, with autism plus a severe learning disability, when he turns 18

eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.crowdjustice.com%2Fcase%2F3forall&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cefd9631846a749e1b9d908d5746b549e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636542926676516658&sdata=cNaYP8B7vZApO62BIo%2Bbav2y7RsD3f75P9s4Nhgm3oE%3D&reserved=0

bumping as people should see this

Another two Somerset National Autistic Society (NAS) services are still ranked by CQC ‘requires improvement’ - including a house in the very same complex as the abusive Mendip House. CQC cites safety issues like not checking water, so severely autistic/learning disabled residents may scald selves. So much for the ‘lessons learned rhetoric’ from the hand-wringing NAS statement last week! Any reporters out there?

www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-134620920

www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-315646391

In fact 8 out of the NAS’ 57 adult services covered by the CQC are today ranked ‘requiring improvement’. Maybe that’s par for the course in this moribund world of autism/LD adult ‘care’? Seems high though for an organisation that was weeping remorseful tears all over the press last week about ‘lessons learned’ and ‘all our systems and practices now thoroughly improved after years of post-Mendip soul-searching’

www.cqc.org.uk/provider/1-102642930

Christ, this is awful. I can’t find anything constructive to say, but it needs media coverage.

I've been uncomfortable with the NAS for a long time, ever since DS was diagnosed actually, we didn't seem to fit their criteria for support.

before DS was diagnosed even.

WTF is WRONG with some people?! Hideous that they can do this and then have the audacity to try and sneak out the news!