Learning Disability Today
Blue Sky Offices Shoreham
25 Cecil Pashley Way
Shoreham-by-Sea
West Sussex
BN43 5FF
United Kingdom
T: 01273 434943
Contacts
Alison Bloomer
Managing Editor
[email protected]
[email protected]
Blue Sky Offices Shoreham
25 Cecil Pashley Way
Shoreham-by-Sea
West Sussex
BN43 5FF
United Kingdom
T: 01273 434943
Contacts
Alison Bloomer
Managing Editor
[email protected]
[email protected]
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The Department of Health (DH) has released its interim report on the Winterbourne View scandal and set out 14 national actions to improve the care and support of vulnerable people with learning disabilities or autism (25th June 2012). The report is based on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) findings from the inspections the regulator carried out at similar units to Winterbourne View at the request of care services minister Paul Burstow last year. It also draws on the experiences and views of people with a learning disability, autism, and challenging behaviour and their families, and the expertise of doctors, social workers and other care professionals. The report highlighted four main findings:
The 14 actions include:
Burstow said: “There is compelling evidence that some people withlearning disabilities are being failed by health and care services.While people in some parts of the country receive good quality andcompassionate care – near to family and friends – this is notalways the norm. “Our national actions will mean that people haveaccess to good care, closer to home. They will make sure those whoprovide care, commission care and care staff – know exactly whatpart they must play and what standards are expected of them.”
Mark Lever, chief executive of the National Autistic Society, welcomed the DH’s report: “Parents and carers of people with autism put agreat deal of trust in a care system that all too often failssociety’s most vulnerable. “The report identifies what is wrongwith the current system and sets out the agenda for reform. We nowurge the Government to build on this framework and ensure action istaken at both a national and local level to restore peoples’ faithin the system and prevent further cases of malpractice and neglect.”We urgently need stronger checks and balances to identify poor and abusive practice locally, and make sure it is stamped out.”
In a joint statement, Mencap’s chief executive Mark Goldring, and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation’s chief executive Viv Cooper,said: “One year on from Panorama’s undercover investigation into a private hospital for people with a learning disability, people continue to remain in large, out of town units for long periods oftime, isolated and at risk of abuse and neglect. “Action is needed to stop people with a learning disability and behaviour thatchallenges being sent away to these services. “The government’sproposals on local action will not be enough to create the systematic change needed. We are looking for a direct commitment fromgovernment to put in place a strong, practical action plan with clear targets when it publishes its final review in September.”
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