Lobby
Lobby Intro
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This page is dedicated to sharing our views and comments on social policy and innovative practice.
CQC publishes report on Learning Disabilities Services
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) report found that almost half of the 145 learning disabilities services inspected did not meet national standards.
The unannounced inspections, prompted by the Winterbourne View scandal last year, revealed a number of important underlying issues:
• People with learning disabilities are staying in assessment centres for too long before moving into suitable long-term care settings.
• Not enough is being done to help people with learning disabilities move on to appropriate community-based care.
• Providers, commissioners and regulators need to follow good practice guidance and focus on care that is based on individuals’ needs and preferences.
• There is an urgent need to provide training and reduce the use of restraint.
Responding to the report, Kim Foo, CEO of Heritage Care said:
“We commend the CQCs involvement of people who have experience of using learning disability services to inform their inspections. We share the CQC’s concerns about the number of services failing to provide appropriate levels of care across the country.
At Heritage Care, we strive to exceed regulatory standards every day, to deliver the highest quality person-centered care and support possible.
Importantly, this report highlights the need for a review of why people are not helped to move into community-based services such as the ones Heritage Care provides. The government and the Department of Health have been presented with solid evidence that cost effective high quality solutions are available in the Association for Supported Living’s report ‘There is an Alternative’. Heritage Care contributed evidence to this report which demonstrated that high quality community-based services can save £100,000 compared to institutional services. We support the Association for Supported Living’s call on the government, to compel commissioners to set a timetable for the provision of alternative, community-based services for all people as a matter of urgency. Heritage Care can also evidence the benefits that exercising independence and choice has on reducing challenging behaviour. Community-based services offer greater quality of life, independence and choice to people, and reduce government spending. It’s a simple choice."
The CQC report and Easy Read report can be found on the CQC website www.cqc.org.uk
The Association for Supported Living's report 'There is an Alternative' can be found on the ASL's website www.a-s-l.org.uk
Heritage Care is a registered charity specialising in social care services across England, for older people, people with learning disabilities and mental health needs to ensure that they can enjoy full and rewarding lives. For more information, please visit www.heritagecare.co.uk
(27.06.2012)
Health and Social Care Reform Bill in Queen’s Speech
The Queen gave a speech today setting out the legislative agenda for the coming year. Although the list is written by a cabinet committee, the Prime Minister has the last say on what is included.
It was very appropriate that this address mentioned the social care reform bill. With an aging population and increasing numbers of people needing social care support, with 10 million disabled people living in the UK who are twice as likely to be living in poverty as non-disabled people, with an estimated 6.4 million people looking after friends and relatives as carers, with around 820,000 people living with dementia, and 29,000 adults with a learning disability living with elderly parents many of whom are too old or frail to continue in their caring role, it is obvious that this reform should be prioritised.
Providing good quality, affordable, professional care is our priority. We will continue to provide personalised care to people with learning disabilities, mental health issues and older people across the country within the current framework.
We will continue to support people to lead independent and fulfilling lives, we will continue to employ the best staff and promote a culture of dignity and choice. Our commitment is for the long term. This is why we urge the leaders of this country to make reforms to the system that will ensure we have a system that supports people now and in the future.
(09.05.2012)