You may have noticed it’s been a little quiet on our blog recently. This is because we have been working hard behind the scenes developing Dr MJS Harmony Haven and making steady progress towards opening our service (Perhaps sooner than expected 👀) As a doctor working in the South East and developing a supported living service in Ashford, I am increasingly worried about what I am seeing across adult social care in England. Learning disabled and autistic adults are having th

Independence, Not Institution: Why I Am Leaning Towards Supported Living When I first started shaping Dr MJ’s Harmony Haven, I pictured a small, high quality residential home. Four to 8 Beds, calm environment, doctor led, a safe place for autistic adults and people with learning disabilities who had been failed by the system. Then I sat down with two people who have been in this space far longer than me: a public health specialist from Kent County council with more than 25 ye

I met her on the ward as part of a routine review. The handover was straightforward: young autistic woman, admitted following an overdose, discharged from mental health services way too early, parents felt she wasn't ready, now she's stuck as a "social admission" while we figure out longer-term accommodation. The MDT consensus was clear. She wasn't engaging. Withdrawn. Difficult to assess. There was even talk of selective mutism. The plan was to keep her in hospital until a s