regulatory policy

Today Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) condemns the “horrific reality” of conditions and treatment under which many young people with learning disabilities and autism are detained in mental health hospitals, “inflicting terrible suffering on those detained and causing anguish to their distraught families”.

In 2016, the UK government launched a groundbreaking drive to reduce the use of psychotropic drugs for people with autism and learning disabilities. But recent figures show that while prescribing rates for antipsychotics have fallen since the campaign’s launch, antidepressants, hypnotics, and stimulants have all risen.

Ciara Lawrence, Campaigns Support Officer for Mencap, writes about her horror at seeing the abuse of people with learning disabilities in care homes - and calls on the government to take action. 

Darren Devine discusses the widespread nature of the use of restraint and seclusion in schools for learning disabled children, and speaks to those campaigning to change this. 

The Care Quality Commission has pledged to review restrictive interventions (restraint, prolonged seclusion, and segregation) in a variety of settings.

In order to protect vulnerable people, the Government has brought forward a Bill that proposes amendments to the Mental Capacity Bill. 

Toolkit for accommodating neurodivergent workers is created for employers.

The Care Quality Commission brought the prosecution against the owners of Mossley Manor Care Home in Liverpool.

Mayo House, a service providing care and accommodation for people with complex behavioural support needs, has been rated ‘outstanding’ by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors.

A specialist care home in Teignmouth, Devon, for adults with complex needs including autism, behaviours that challenge, acquired brain injury and learning disabilities, has been rated ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

NHS England has published proposals to close England’s last old-style long-stay learning disability hospital at Calderstones in Lancashire, and create more community support for people with a learning disability and/or autism in the Northwest.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is taking action to protect the safety and welfare of people with learning disabilities using a care home in Streatham, southwest London following an inspection that found it to be inadequate.

Care regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is carrying out a review of how NHS trusts identify, report, investigate and learn from deaths of people using their services – with a particular focus on people with a learning disability or mental health problem.

Employment tribunals and other bodies have been reminded of their duty to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate claimants' disabilities, following the conclusion of a case in the Employment Appeal Tribunal.

Recommendations for change have been made to improve the care of vulnerable people by the Mental Welfare Commission, following the case of a woman with autism who took her own life.