THE despairing mother of an autistic teenager is pleading with a council to reconsider its decision to move her son away from the team who have looked after him since July.

She is concerned transferring her son, who has complex needs and can be violent, will harm his mental and emotional health.

Last year the 16-year-old returned home from hospital care and transferred in July under an interim care order to a specialist respite care centre in another borough,

In November Blackburn with Darwen Council obtained a full care order with shared parental responsibilities with his mother and has paid for him to stay at the centre.

Now it wants to transfer him to a new home, understood to be in Blackburn.

His mother wants him to be moved to a supported flat run by the respite centre currently caring for him and believes the council's concern is cost.

Blackburn MP Kate Hollern has asked the council to re-examine the case.

The respite centre owner has confirmed it is happy to continue to look after the teenager in the flat.

His mother said: "I am in despair.

"I cannot sleep at night worrying about his future.

"I am pleading with the council to reconsider.

"Originally I would have preferred a combination of more support at home and respite care.

"The staff where he is now are great with him, and it has taken all this time to build relationships, trust and rapport.

"The respite centre has a supported living establishment, and a place has been ready since December.

"The house would be the perfect environment, with staff he knows working there around the clock.

"The council are looking at an alternative which is apparently £2,000 a week cheaper.

"This seem to be all about the cost not his best interests which is just wrong. I have shared parental responsibility but apparently no say in what happens to my son.

"It is very hard for a young person with autism to form relationships.

"I fear moving him away from the team of people he knows will damage his mental, emotional and physical health."

The respite centre owner said: "We have looked after this vulnerable young man since July.

"We now have a supported accommodation apartment with a two-to-one staffing arrangement with members of his existing support team, which we feel would be appropriate for him to stay with us."

Mrs Hollern said: "I am seeking reassurance that my constituent’s son will continue to receive care that ensures stability.

"His condition means that he requires specialist support, established routines and an environment he is comfortable in."

Jayne Ivory, Blackburn with Darwen Council's director of children’s services, said: “We do not comment on individual cases in relation to our corporate parenting responsibilities.

"We take our responsibilities very seriously.

"We have a legal and also a moral obligation to always make decisions in the best interests of the child. No other factors, such as cost, come into our decision making.”