Supported housing or residential care?

Mr R-B suffered from Asperger's Syndrome, an autistic spectrum disorder, so he could not properly care for himself. He was receiving visiting day care in his own home, a remote cottage, but it was agreed that this arrangement should not continue.

Wanting to help R-B live as independently as possible, the trust identified a unit of supported housing that it considered would be an "enabling environment", giving R-B the opportunity to access mainstream activities. That was a privately owned house divided into six bedsits for use by disabled tenants. The council provided 24-hour support staff under a Supporting People scheme.

R-B's mother felt he needed residential care rather than supported housing and sought a judicial review. But the judge dismissed her claim.

The decision the trust had made was not irrational, the judge decided.

The trust had considered the medical reports and all other information. It had no obligation to allow R-B to be legally represented at a hearing before it made a decision. There had been no breach of R-B's human rights.