Feel like I am in a deadlock with CAHMS

[ahatintub]

These last few months have been distressing, with my younger brother (teenager) seemingly developing poor anger management issues and can't seem to concentrate on any task. The lack of house work done by him and him not going to school while issues, what is more problematic is that he is aggressive and physically harms mum and dad and since he now sleeps much later than others, they can't have any proper sleep since if they aren't awake he might harm them.

He was referred to CAMHS several months ago and one would expect them to act more decisively since he is already diagnosed with autism but it seems they are keen on making this into what feels like a pointless endeavour since they referred him back to the GP who referred him back to CAMHS.

Has anyone else been able to escape deadlock like this?

We are talking about a violent teen - whether they are autistic or not is irrelevant - most autistic teens are not violent - many autistic teens are not diagnosed, it makes little difference to any of the issues the OP mentioned

@Soontobe60 My first post aimed at the OP was not full of acronyms and jargon. Other than the standard ones on MN and NHS I used EHCP/EHCNA which is a fairly standard one in the SEN world. My latter posts were supposedly aimed at a SENCO who should understand everything I wrote. I replied to that other poster so the OP is aware what they are posting is nonsense. Everything I posted can help, which I wanted the OP to know.

Of course ASD is relevant to the situation. No, not all autistic teens are violent but some are and of course it makes a difference.

If he is violent, then call the police, every time, exactly as you would with anyone else

We are having exactly the same issue with my DB who is also 15. He is so violent physically and verbally and is threatening to kill family members while they sleep.

I just don't know what can be done or what's going to happen with him.

Yes I mean the local trust.

Actually I was referring to your second post.

The one thing CAMHS can do is prescribe medication. Medication available to autistic children who are struggling include anti depressants/anti anxiety meds, antipsychotic meds and melatonin for sleep. Would need you DB to be assessed by a psychiatrist.

My second post stated “Of course there is more that can be done.” Can you tell me exactly which part of that is full of acronyms and jargon?

As I said, only my first post was aimed at the OP, the subsequent posts, including this second post, was aimed at another poster and a supposed SENCO should understand everything I wrote.

Dil works on adolescent health.

There are 25000 vacancies in CAHMS. They can’t recruit.

EHCP’s are rarer than hens teeth. My self harming ASD EBSA DD with general anxiety, social anxiety and mutism with a shit ton of evidence from Gp, pyschologist, pyschiatrist, got refusal to assess.

This is how bad it is. There is no support anywhere unless you pay.

People sometimes have to appeal, but it is more than possible to get an EHCP. I have supported thousands of parents to get EHCPs including therapies such as OT and MH therapies, and have 2 DC with EHCPs including therapies.

I don't think any of this helps. Sure, it generates many hours of busiwork, but nothing constructive.

'busiwork' is such a lightbulb moment for me @Sidslaw

parents get sent round in loops don't they, gives lots of people well paid jobs. none of it helps ime, at all. CAMHS are worse than useless, like made our lives worse but signed DD off as 'better', never tackled the actual issue at all

This👏🏼👏🏼

CAMHS discharged my dd when she was refusing to go to school. She severely self harmed a week later. She did get a nice certificate from them though. Made fuck all difference.

The battle for children with SEND is exhausting. No one gives a shit. Yeah sure you can appeal for EHCP. But why should you have to?

Busiwork which makes no difference. This is the best and most truthful thing I’ve read.

You shouldn’t have to, but sadly it isn’t going to change anytime soon, so the alternative is don’t appeal and DC are left with nothing. That doesn’t help anyone.

A good EHCP (which may take an appeal) can work and provide support. It doesn’t have to rely on CAMHS. I know this as I live it, day in, day out. Supporting parents to ensure they have a comprehensive EHCP is what I do. To say a good EHCP doesn’t help is wrong.

I think EHCP help in terms of setting out reasonable adjustments - until form adjustments, safe places, extra time etc. Which is great if your child changes school, because it's all recorded and legally binding

my child will not engage with counselling at all after her experience with CAMHS

An EHCP can do far more than that. The child doesn’t even have to be in a school. The support doesn’t have to be counselling either.

I believe this is true for a small number of kids.

with respect, you are a 'busiworker' so you would feel that it is making a difference

this is on BBC News this morning

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66731265

It’s not a small number. How am I a ‘busiworker’? You don’t know me or what I do. I have supported a vast number of parents on MN and IRL completely free of charge.

If it didn’t make a difference I wouldn’t waste my time.

apologies, I misunderstood. I thought that was your job because you said;

A good EHCP (which may take an appeal) can work and provide support. It doesn’t have to rely on CAMHS. I know this as I live it, day in, day out. Supporting parents to ensure they have a comprehensive EHCP is what I do

That quote is accurate. It is what I do day in, day out.

The vast majority of the support I currently provide is unpaid and for many years it was all unpaid. In the last year I have started working very part time TTO for a charity that supports parents with disabled DC (the majority pay nothing for the support they receive). That work certainly isn’t ‘busiwork’.

I came back here to see if there was any useful advice but instead just bickering.

Does anyone know what I would be looking for in terms of going private? Violent teen who won't go to appointments nor take medication and acts like the sun shines out of his arse when the police turn up

They absolutely can and do work. They did with my violent DS who wouldn't attend school.

Most poor behaviour is a form of communication. When a child has an autism diagnosis there is already a recognised communication issue.

A readiness to write off autistic children is a real problem and a reason why so many autistic kids end up unemployable and why so many end up, sadly, in the prison system.

This is really difficult.

Will he allow people, other than the police, to come into the home. How long has he been like this for?

It took a long time for my DS to decompress enough to be able to engage with anything or agree to medication.

Occupational Therapy when he could engage worked well as did anti anxiety meds which have been life changing.

Have you asked him what he wants his life to look like? If he feels like he is in control he will be able to cope better if this is anxiety driven?