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NHS Care after 18

urspecial

Hi everyone, new member here.

Man its taken me a long time to get used to the community part of the site. I'm new as you might have gussed.

Anyway,  I have a couple of questions and would really appreciate any answers/suggestions or comments.

1. Have you yourself or someone you know with HFA/Asperger's moved (transition) from CAMHS to Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS)?

2. If yes, how did you/they find it? good, ok, bad, really bad.

I will be moving soon

 

3. What team were they/you under?  e.g. CMHT, Assertive outreach etc

4. What support were they/you offered by the AMHS?

e.g. CPN, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Social Worker etc.

 

The reason behind these qs is that I have spoken to my Psychiatrist and they can't find any appropriate service for me in adults.

Only some of the staff at the local CMHT understand Autism. They get OCD, Bipolar and the usual! The doctors are on contract for 3 months - no permament staff.

My current doctor @ CAMHS really gets me and they really understand Autism unlike so many other "professionals" I have met.

 

I have two possible options now:

1. My docotr asks the local NHS learning disability team to accept me as I've got no where else to go and they are the best alternative. (though I have a very slim chance as they said no last time as I am too intelligant  for their service - in other words too high IQ.)

2.  Or put the Autism Card (the Autism Act) and make the PCT and council to make provisions for people like me with HFA. My doctor is going to speak to their manager. My Social Worker's manager will speak to their manager too. Real pitty we need to do this. But my doctor really understanding though.

Second option is becoming more of a reality though I think I will have the moral support of my doctor.

 

The nearest city near me - Birmingham says that they won't provide HFA services as there is no cure for Autism and if people with ASD have mh problems they are already services in place. They don't get that the "professionals" in these services don't really have a clue about Autism. And if they do, you hardly see them after 3-4 months time cause they have left. ASD is not part of adult services remit sadly too.

 

 

Sorry for the rant - any comments would be gr8t.  

 

  • i'm lucky I have a social worker who comes down every friday to help me deal with overcoming my social anxiety. She is very understanding. I have her by circumstance because the other person left and they have both done more sessions with me then they should of done. I've been having help for over two years.

    How my mum got me help was by nagging to my doctor, which then lead to me being diagnosed. Maybe if you got someone to come with you, you also might be referred to somewhere. However it does take a lot of persuading with your GP. Good luck 

  • I'm studying Sciences; hoping to go to Uni next year though.

    My current doctor's worried about the same thing about seeing a doctor for only 3 months and then they change

    I've had junior doctors @ CAMHS (Children Mental Health Service) but some are better than others. lol

     

  • Yes, Locums are on temporary contracts and they are usually junior doctors who are in training. I had one who was training to be a GP.  You only see a Locum two or three times, in my case I have only seen some Locums once (annoying because there is no continuity of care). I was told by the Consultant psychiatrist's  secretary (have only met Consultant once) that Locums save money because they are just on training most of the time.

     

    What are you studying at college?

  • Thanks for your comment.

    Don't get me started on Social Workers.

    I am Glad you had a good Social Worker and the stability you needed.

    One thing I've heard recently is the term Locums.

    Are these adult psychiatrists, who are only there for a short time?

    Do they "save" money cuz they're only temporary?

    I'm trying to learn all I can about how adult services work or don't work.

    I had the exact same experiance but not with a CPN but at my local college cuz they wanted nothing to do with Autism as it cost them too much money, time and effort. Even my current Psychiatrist was not impressed. In the end just left early and took a break. U need it cuz it was like banging your head against the wall hardly - ur never gonna get anywere. Thankfully I went to another college where staff actually care about the students and Autism.

  • Regarding psychiatrists, they do, unfortunately,  tend to only stay for a few months because they are all locums (this is of course all to do with saving money, the usual story). There is a permanent Consultant but I never see her and only see the Locums.  However, my main care is delivered via my social worker who is on a permanent contract, which provides the stability that I need. I did, at one point, see a CPN, but she was awful and had NO understanding of AS, and I burst into tears at one point and had a tantrum in her office because of the way she spoke to me

  • I have only ever known adult mental health services. I am lucky in having a social worker who knows a lot about AS, is very understanding and proactive, but not all  mental health professionals are always clued up when it comes to AS, and I have seen the good and the bad. My social worker helps with finding accomodation (I am hoping to move out of parent's home soon,  for I am 24 years old) and with the 6 monthly social care reviews (I receive support from a local Autism charity). I see a psychiatrist every 4 months and they deal with my OCD and anxieties. I am also on a waiting list for CBT ( a booster course).

     

    CMHT can also refer you to organizations like Workability that can help you find employment. Workability, certainly where I live, are now tailoring their support for people with AS, and I have just been referred to them