The Scottish Government

Listen

Statistics Release
ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES IMPLEMENTATION OF 'THE SAME AS YOU?' SCOTLAND 2003

A SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE NATIONAL STATISTICS PUBLICATION

This document is also available in pdf format (76k)

Introduction

The purpose of this Statistics Release is to present the first national figures for services provided by local authorities in Scotland for adults with learning disabilities. All figures relate to the week ending 18 May 2003 and are provisional, as such, may be subject to change. The final figures will be published in 'Scottish Community Care Statistics 2003'.

This publication is a result of The same as you? review of services for people with learning disabilities, published in May 2000. Its 29 recommendations for developing learning disability services set out a programme for change over 10 years.

Main Points

• An estimated 18,066 adults with learning disabilities were known to local authorities throughout Scotland (See Section 1).
• The ratio of adults known to local authorities with learning disabilities per 1,000 population is 4.4 for the whole of Scotland (See Chart 1).
• 13 local authorities provided a Local Area Co-ordination service or similar alternative (See Section 2).
• 23 per cent of adults known to local authorities are estimated to be living independently (See section 9).
• 7,433 adults with learning disabilities visited a Day/Resource Centre during the typical week. Of these 2,712 (37 per cent) attended for the full 5 days and a further 3,574 (48 per cent) attended a Centre and had alternative day opportunities (See section 10).

Chart 1: Adults with Learning Disabilities known to Local Authorities per 1,000 Population

Section 1: Adults Known to Local Authorities

There were an estimated 18,066 adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities throughout Scotland (See table 1).

Table 1: Number of Adults with Learning Disabilities known to Local Authorities

Source: 'The same as you?' Annual Survey

Of those adults known, 10,002 were male (55 per cent) and 8,064 were female (45 per cent). 9 per cent of adults were aged 16-20 and had left school, 81 per cent were aged 21-64 and the remaining 10 per cent were aged over 65.

The ratio of adults known to local authorities with learning disabilities per 1,000 population is 4.4 for the whole of Scotland. This varies from 1.3 in Aberdeen City to 10.2 in Dundee City. This ratio is broken down by local authority (along with gender) in Annex A on page 7.

Section 2: Local Area Co-ordination

'The same as you?' recommends that health boards and local authorities should agree to appoint local area co-ordinators for adults with learning disabilities. Adults received a service from either a local area co-ordinator or a similar alternative in 13 local authorities (in one case prior to the introduction of LAC).

Collectively those 13 authorities reported 1,588 adults getting this type of service of which 888 were male (56 per cent) and 700 were female (44 per cent). This accounts for an estimated 9 per cent of the total number of adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities throughout Scotland.

The remaining 19 local authorities did not have an active local area co-ordination service in operation during the typical week in May

2003. 8 of those authorities did report that they were in the process of appointing co-ordinators and the 9 per cent Scotland average for 2003 is expected to increase. Annex B on page 8 shows the total number of adults receiving the service for each local authority.

Section 3: Personal Life Plans

'The same as you?' recommends that everyone with a learning disability who wants to, should be able to have a personal life plan. Over 3,000 adults with learning disabilities have a personal life plan. 56 per cent of those adults were male and 44 per cent were female.

There is a great amount of variation between local authorities concerning the number of adults with a personal life plan as a percentage of those known to them. Although the Scotland wide average is estimated at just over one in five adults (21 per cent), various authorities have a much greater figure with East Renfrewshire reporting 96 per cent of all adults known to it as having a PLP. Other authorities also have rates above 50 per cent, for example Angus, Argyll & Bute, East Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire. Annex B shows a local authority breakdown of PLP participation rates.

Section 4: Independent Advocacy Service

An independent advocate is someone who gets to know a person with learning disabilities and helps them speak up for themselves. 1,374 adults had an independent advocate across Scotland in May 2003. 54 per cent of those adults were male and 46 per cent were female.

Adults with an independent advocate account for an estimated 8 per cent of those known in Scotland. Some authorities reported a much higher rate, in particular East Ayrshire (22 per cent), South Ayrshire and East Dunbartonshire (17 per cent each). Annex B shows a local authority breakdown of independent advocacy totals.

Section 5: Employment Opportunities

Various numbers of adults with learning disabilities participated in voluntary work, 'non-open' employment and 'open' employment during the typical week (Annex C provides a description of these employment types). Table 2 and chart 2 illustrate the number and composition of adults taking up employment opportunities.

Table 2: Adults with Learning Disabilities who have Employment Opportunities

Source: 'The same as you?' Annual Survey

Chart 2: Gender Ratio of Adults with Employment Opportunities

Whilst almost the same number of males and females with learning disabilities participated in voluntary work, a greater proportion of those involved in non-open and open employment were male. 59 per cent of those within non-open employment were male compared to 41 per cent female and 63 per cent of those in open employment were male and 37 per cent were female.

There were 979 adults engaged in voluntary work. Dumfries & Galloway had the largest number of adults in this field with 130. 774 adults took part in non-open employment with Aberdeenshire reporting the highest figure with 136. Finally 740 adults were in open-employment with the greatest numbers in Argyll & Bute and North Lanarkshire (89 each). A breakdown of the number of adults in each employment type by authority is in Annex C on page 8.

Chart 3: Duration in Days of Adults participating in Employment during the typical week

Chart 3 shows the length of time adults with learning disabilities spent engaged in each of the employment types. Whereas less than 10 per cent took part in voluntary work for 4 or more days during the typical week, the number that did so for open employment exceeded 40 per cent.

A majority of those taking part in non-open employment (58 per cent) did so for the duration of 1 to 3 days each week.

Section 6: Further Education

An estimated 4,161 adults with learning disabilities participated in some form of further education. 2,231 (54 per cent) of those were male and 1,930 (46 per cent) were female.

Chart 4 shows those attending further education institutions by the length of time spent there during the typical term time week. A majority of adults attending spent 1 day or less involved in further education (60 per cent). 6 per cent of adults attending a course did so for the full five days. See Annex D on page 10 for a local authority breakdown of participation in further education.

Chart 4: Adults in Further Education by the length of time spent during week

Section 7: Training

1,603 adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities were engaged in some form of employment training during the typical week. 848 were male (53 per cent) and 755 were female (47 per cent).

Chart 5 opposite shows adults involved in employment training by the length of time spent there during the typical week. Almost three quarters of adults spent 1 day or less participating in employment training. 7 per cent of adults trained for the full five days. Annex D shows the number of adults in employment training broken down by local authority.

Section 8: Community Short Breaks

A community short break is provided in a non-residential setting and is for the carer and the person with learning disabilities. Over 1,600 adults with learning disabilities got some form of community short break during the typical week. 53 per cent of those adults were male and 47 per cent were female.

Of those adults involved in community short breaks, only 4 per cent received a break lasting less than an hour during the typical week. Whilst 37 per cent of adults had short breaks of between 1 and 5 hours, the majority (59 per cent) received over 5 hours a week.

Chart 5: Adults in Employment Training by length of time spent during week

It is estimated that throughout Scotland, 11 per cent of adults with learning disabilities known by authorities received a community short break during the typical week. Four local authorities reported around one third of adults known to them as receiving a short break (including Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire both with 31 per cent). Annex E on page 11 shows a local authority breakdown of Short Break participation rates.

Section 9: Independent Living

An estimated 4,195 adults with learning disabilities live independently in their own tenancies throughout Scotland. This is approximately 23 per cent of those known to local authorities. Independent Living rates vary by a large amount across local authorities. Annex E shows the number of adults living independently by local authority.

Of those living independently, 2,316 (55 per cent) were male and 1,879 (45 per cent) were female.

Section 10: Alternatives to Traditional Day Services

Alternative day opportunities for adults with learning disabilities can include employment, lifelong learning, training, sport or leisure and recreation. Traditional Day services are where adults attend a Day or Resource Centre.

Table 3 shows adults attending Day Centres within Scotland and the period of time spent there. 7,433 adults with learning disabilities attended a Day Centre during the typical week. 2,712 of those adults (37 per cent) attended the Centre for the full five days. Nearly half (48 per cent) of adults attended a day centre for less than 5 days and in addition had some alternative day opportunities. The remaining 1,147 (15 per cent) spent less than 5 days attending a Centre and had no alternative days.

Table 3: Adults with Learning Disabilities attending a Day/Resource Centre

Source: 'The same as you?' Annual Survey

Table 4 shows the number of adults receiving alternative day opportunities and whether or not they visited a day centre during the same week.

Table 4: Adults with Learning Disabilities receiving Alternative Day Opportunities

Source: 'The same as you' Annual Survey

In addition to the 3,574 adults that both attended a day centre and had alternative day opportunities during the typical week, an extra 1,969 also had alternative day opportunities but did not visit a traditional centre. Therefore over one third (36 per cent) of the estimated 5,543 adults engaged in alternative day opportunities did not attend a day centre.

Annexes F and G on pages 12 and 13 show a local authority breakdown of the percentage of adults attending a Day Centre that did so full time (5 days) during the typical week and the percentage that attended a Day Centre and also got alternative day opportunities.

Duration of Alternative Day Opportunities

The length of time each adult spent engaged in alternative day opportunities varied from just half of 1 day to the full 5 days. Almost half of adults (47 per cent) took part for 3 or more days, whilst 16 per cent spent a full 5 days during the typical week engaged in an alternative activity (See Chart 5).

Chart 5: Adults with Alternative Day Opportunities by length of time spent during week

Background Information on the Collection of The Same As You? Statistics

Data was collected with respect to the week ending 18 May 2003, although some local authorities provided information for a different week, which was thought to be more typical.

The same as you? signalled a fundamental change in the way services were provided for adults with learning disabilities. Increasingly services are no longer focussed on buildings, whether in a hospital or Day Centre. People with learning disabilities are now living in the community, often with their own tenancy in a house or small group accommodation. New style day services are being introduced, with a focus on people, and a variety of things to do. More people with learning disabilities are doing activities during the day that are stimulating and include them in the community.

This was the first time a statistical collection on ' The same as you?' provision of services for adults with learning disabilities has been issued. Local Authorities were asked to provide information on the number of adults with learning disabilities known to them, what their living arrangements were and what services were provided for them.

A full or partial return was received from each local authority in Scotland. For certain topics a small amount of information has had to be estimated for some local authorities. Some data regarding gender has also been estimated. Care should be taken when comparing the number of adults receiving a particular service as a proportion of those known to local authorities. In some cases the calculation may not be based on the same base of individuals. Therefore in general those figures should be treated as estimates.

All of the local authorities and their NHS and Independent Sector partners are making progress implementing 'The same as you?'. Any comparisons between authorities should take account of local prioritisation and varying baseline levels of service.

All figures within this release are provisional. The final figures will be published in 'Scottish Community Care Statistics 2003'

Further Information

Further details and analysis of the data presented in this Statistics Release are available on request from the address given below. The Statistics Release is available on the Internet by accessing the Scottish Executive web site ( www.scotland.gov.uk).

Information at a disaggregate local authority level showing the number of adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities and the number involved in various topics throughout the survey is shown in Annexes A to G in this release.

Social Work Statistics
Room 3.WR
St Andrew's House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
Contact: Steven Gillespie
Tel: 0131 244 3777
E-mail: SWStat@scotland.gov.uk

This statistics release was published on 19 February 2004.

Annex A: Adults with Learning Disabilities known to Local Authorities

Notes 1. The table above refers to May 2003
2. 'Adults known per 1,000 Population' - This refers to the number of adults with learning disabilities known to local authorities per 1,000 of the population (aged 16 and above).
3. A small amount of male/female data has been estimated for two local authorities.
4. Figures below 5 have not been displayed for individual local authorities.

Annex B: Adults with Learning Disabilities and Local Area Co-ordination
Adults with Learning Disabilities and a Personal Life Plan
Adults with Learning Disabilities using an Independent Advocacy Service

Notes - (* - Information not available from Local Authority)
1. Local Area Co-ordination - Prior to the introduction of LAC, Glasgow City has provided figures for the number of adults receiving 'Active Care Management'. This has similarities to LAC. An estimate figure for the number of adults using a LAC service has been calculated for one other authority.
2. Personal Life Plans - Some local authorities were either unable to provide information or use a different terminology from that used in the survey. Therefore the 21% estimate for Scotland wide participation excludes those authorities that could not provide data.
4. Independent Advocacy - The figures above do not include group advocacy. The 8% estimate for Scotland wide participation excludes those authorities that could not provide data.
5. The number of adults using a LAC service or with a Personal Life Plan or Independent Advocate as a percentage of those known to a local authority is an estimate as the figures may not necessarily come from the same base of individuals.

Annex C: Adults with Learning Disabilities in Voluntary Work, Non-Open Employment and Open Employment by Local Authority

Notes 1. The above figures relate to the number of adults with learning disabilities who took part in some form of employment during the typical week. This could be in either voluntary work, non-open employment or open employment. Some adults may have engaged in more than one type of employment during the typical week.
2. Types of Employment
Voluntary Work - Voluntary Work involves activities in which the person does not get paid, although they may get expenses.
Non-Open Employment - This is employment exclusively for 1 individual or a group of individuals with learning disabilities. The workplace has been set up specifically for people with learning disabilities and they get an allowance rather than a wage for the work they do.
Open Employment - Open employment posts have/or could be put out to open job markets. There is an open market demand for the service the person with learning disabilities provides or the manufactured goods the person produces. The individual receives the going rate for the job and is included in a staff group with people who don't have learning disabilities.

Annex D: Adults with Learning Disabilities in Further Education and Training

Notes 1. The figures above relate to the number of adults with learning disabilities who took part in Further Education/Employment Training during the typical week.
2. Dundee City classifies all clients involved in both of the above categories as being within Further Education.
3. An estimated figure for the number of adults in Further Education or Employment Training has been calculated for a small number of Local Authorities.

Annex E: Adults with Learning Disabilities getting Community Short Breaks
Adults with Learning Disabilities living Independently

Notes - (* Information not available from Local Authority)
1. Community Short Breaks - The figures above relate to the number of adults with learning disabilities who took part in some form of Community Short Break during the typical week. Some local authorities were unable to provide information on this topic. Therefore the 11% estimate for Scotland wide participation excludes those authorities that could not provide data.
2. Independent Living - This refers to the number of adults with learning disabilities known to be living in their own tenancies with packages of support. An estimate figure has been calculated for two local authorities.
3. The number of adults receiving a community short break or living independently as a percentage of those known to a local authority is an estimate as the figures may not necessarily come from the same base of individuals.

Annex F: Adults with Learning Disabilities attending a Day Centre during the typical week on a full time (5 day) basis

Notes 1. The figures above relate to the number of adults with learning disabilities who attended a traditional day/resource centre during the typical week (for the full five days and in total).
2. The third column is an estimate for the percentage of adults attending a day centre during the typical week that did so for the full 5 days.
3. Estimate figures have been given for some local authorities.

Annex G: Adults with Learning Disabilities attending a Day Centre with Alternative Day Opportunities

Notes 1. The figures above relate to the number of adults with learning disabilities who attended a traditional day/resource centre during the typical week (for those that also got alternative day opportunities and in total).
2. The third column is an estimate for the percentage of adults attending a day centre during the typical week that also got alternative day opportunities.
3. Estimate figures have been given for some local authorities