Mentally ill brother now homeless - any advice?

chiefie

My eldest brother had something similar. The cycle kept repeating. He slept rough a lot but eventually got a place. He died aged 63. It was difficult to help him, it was a vicious circle. The best people to help were the British legion. He had a pension but didn't know about it. It is easy to say take him in and help him, as he would lie and steal what he could, he thought it was acceptable as he wanted someone to blame. I believe he needed to be incarcerated for his own safety but was left in the community with no help. It's not seen as a disability.

-taff

Funny, because I read post #32 as someone trying to come up with a one time solution to the probolem of the OPs brother being about to freeze to death due to the weather...especially in light of the post #37.

But as you say, arguing isn't going to help.....


OP , did you get any response to your e-mail?

annandale

Person one isn't the only person who asked if family could take the brother in. So why single hers out for comment?

Primrose

richdeniro wrote: »

That will most likely be my next step, I have followed the councils complaints procedure and used lots of legal wordings from the Mind and other websites plus massive thanks to those who have replied with advice that I have taken and put into the letter.

Here's what I sent - obviously removed certain personal details and changed his name:

Dear Sir/Madam".................QUOTE.

I have not quoted your letter in full to save space but I thought it was excellently composed, well thought out and makes a devastating case about the way your brother has been treated. It also shows the mental agony which his family is going through trying to get the best help they can for him from a system that has all but given up trying to provide help.

I wish you well . I hope your MP may possibly be able to intervene and knock heads together. Having been in a family situation which had many similarities to yours and a fatal outcome, my heart goes out to you.

justme111

If I could thank previous post twice I would have done it. Your letter shows you do all you can. My heart goes off to your parents.
The reality is that there is not enough money in the system to help hence pass the buck exercise is going on. I would say it will be a miracle if your excellent advocacy helps as I am afraid with all the best will there are things that are not possible.

Person_one

Primrose wrote: »

richdeniro wrote: »

That will most likely be my next step, I have followed the councils complaints procedure and used lots of legal wordings from the Mind and other websites plus massive thanks to those who have replied with advice that I have taken and put into the letter.

Here's what I sent - obviously removed certain personal details and changed his name:

Dear Sir/Madam".................QUOTE.

I have not quoted your letter in full to save space but I thought it was excellently composed, well thought out and makes a devastating case about the way your brother has been treated. It also shows the mental agony which his family is going through trying to get the best help they can for him from a system that has all but given up trying to provide help.

I wish you well . I hope your MP may possibly be able to intervene and knock heads together. Having been in a family situation which had many similarities to yours and a fatal outcome, my heart goes out to you.

Completely agree with this, the letter is incredibly well written. I really hope it gets the response it deserves.

candlelight_2013

The days and nights are so cold at the moment I keep thinking about your poor Brother.

Have you had any response to your letter? I would hope anyone reading it would have responded to such a well written and honest letter.

Candlelightx

miss_independent

If he has been sectioned twice then he is a 117 aftercare and social services HAVE to monitor him...they can't just give up on him because he has taken cannabis, they have a duty of care towards him.

Really it would appear that he warrants going into residential care or supported housing.

Have you got a number for the crisis intervention team? If not, request this from your brother's social worker/care coordinator. Keep escalating if needs be, go over his care-coordinator's head. It's a massive failure on social services behalf if your brother ends up on the streets. They are failing to keep him and/or the public safe.

Failing any success through social services and should your brother end up being non-compliant with medication and become paranoid/a danger to himself or others then turn up at A&E/seek ermergency medical help. He may then be admitted to psychiatric care in hospital and from there he would have to be discharged into a safe place such as a care home or supported housing. They wouldn't be able to just throw him out on the streets, that's not how things work.

Best of luck with this. If everyone follows correct procedure, it should all be dealt with swiftly and properly.

Art_Deco

Hope your brother has been found safe, have you had a response from your letter yet? This is a terrible situation, but not uncommon im afraid , please get in touch with his CPN, GP, or Crisis team,its so unfair, there is so much help for the elderly mentally ill, but a real failing in care for the young .

richdeniro

Have just had the standard letter from the council acknowledging the letter and saying they will look into my complaint. My parents and my local MP have also written back to me saying they have written to Croydon council but I don't know how much effect that will have.

We know he spent last week and the weekend sleeping rough and to be honest I don't know how he survived in that weather. I barely slept at all and the anxiety/stress that my parents and I are under is almost unbearable especially when you hear driving rain and see a thick frost/snow on the car at night. I have been debating telling work the situation but I am the type of person who doesn't want to be treated any differently and am also quite private about my personal life.

We managed to get an appointment with Crisis in Croydon on Sunday - the waiting list was three weeks but I think because we kept bugging them they gave in and actually realised he should have fallen under something called 'No Second Night Out' which focuses on those who have been evicted and suddenly found themselves homeless for the first time.

The guy took one look and had a chat with him and realised he was extremely vulnerable and then was amazing, he spent most of the day phoning various shelters in London before eventually striking lucky at one run by St Mungo's in Islington which actually caters for those with mental illness.

Getting him over there was another drama, he refused to go with us and wasn't at all keen in going to a part of London he's never been to before. Eventually we managed to get him into a cab and paid the driver £70 to get him over there. We half expected him to get out the cab or something on the journey but perhaps the thought of another night on the streets was enough to keep his mind sane enough to go through with it and he has been there since but obviously have had very little contact.

It is some small relief knowing he is under a roof but is so far from his hometown and we have no idea what kind of facilities there are (it sounds like it's just a massive church hall) or what happens now. Obviously it would be better for him to be housed in Croydon and under their care especially as they are aware of his history but I don't know how it works now he has essentially moved boroughs. Added to that his depot injection for antipsychotic medication is due this week so his condition will start deteriorating and he will be hearing voices and start becoming paranoid & aggressive.