§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received as to the quality of community care given to discharged mental patients who have been placed in residential hostel accommodation.
§ Mr. Whitney[pursuant to his reply, 14 April 1986, c. 294–95]: In the last year we have received letters from two former mental illness hospital patients complaining about the hostels they were living in and a letter from one hon. Member concerning alleged financial malpractices by a member of staff in another hostel. In all three instances the local social services department has investigated the complaints. In the two cases that concerned the quality of care the residents left the hostels before the complaints were resolved. In the other case the complaint was partially resolved.
§ Mr. Berminghamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps are taken to ensure the standards of hostel accommodation to which long-term mental health patients are discharged;
(2) what inspection arrangements have been made in respect of those hostels to which long-stay mental patients are discharged.
§ Mr. Whitney[pursuant to his reply, 14 April 1986, c. 294–95]: Before long-stay patients in mental illness hospitals are considered for discharge a full assessment of their abilities and needs should be made and those people found capable of living outside the hospital should have an appropriate course of rehabilitation. When clinicians decide that the time for discharge has been reached, plans should be made, in consultation with the patient and with any other people or bodies who may be involved, for a move to a suitable setting with an appropriate level of ongoing care and support. Where the agreed settng is hostel accommodation—a term that is used to describe a variety of facilities—authorities are expected to assure 539W themselves about the standard of provision before patients are transferred. Hostels may be provided by health and social services authorities themselves, by housing associations, and by the voluntary and private sectors, and the approach needed may vary accordingly.
If a place termed a hostel is providing personal care and is a voluntary or private establishment, registration under the Registered Homes Act 1984 will apply and inspection 540W by the social services department will be required. Some hostels do not provide personal care at this level, but provide accommodation to residents capable of looking after themselves on a day-to day basis. While there are no formal inspection arrangements laid down for non-registerable hostels, authorities can be expected to maintain contact with people they have placed there and to react appropriate to any indications of dissatisfaction.