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The same as you? A review of services for people with learning disabilities

How the review was done

1 We formed four main groups (see appendix 7 for details):

• an interdepartmental steering group;
• a multidisciplinary working group;
• a users’ and carers’ group; and
• a stakeholders’ group made up of experts in the field.

2 We set up six smaller task groups with specific responsibilities to discuss complex needs, best practice, training, the mapping of services, best-value, and children’s services.

3 We carried out a major consultation to get a good understanding of:

• learning disabilities;
• the experiences people have of services;
• the demand for services; and
• what the solutions to service shortfalls might be.

4 We used a range of methods including the following.

Written views

We wrote to over 600 people and agencies inviting their views on current services and on the shape of future services.

Website (http://www.scotland.gov.uk/ldsr/)

We set up an interactive website to give and receive information about the review and to generate on-going debate. Iain Gray, Deputy Minister for Community Care, held a live session on the web to hear the concerns and hopes people have. The website contains most of the material we used.

User and carer roadshows

The user and carer group held 11 roadshows across Scotland to get a national view on what people with learning disabilities and their carers need and want.

Site visits

We visited sites across Scotland to see, at first hand, good and new, creative projects.

Meetings

We met people who used services, carers, staff and representatives from professional organisations to listen to what they felt was important now and in the future.

Conferences

We held four national conferences across the country:

• explaining the reason for and scope of the review;
• examining the best use of resources;
• discussing good practice; and
• looking at the shape of future services.

Workshops

We held four smaller workshops on:

• children’s issues;
• people with complex needs;
• staff development; and
• a brainstorming day for all the groups involved in the review.

Research, surveys and analysis

We carried out the following research and surveys.

• A survey of people with learning disabilities and their families about social and healthcare services.
• A survey of housing solutions and a review of international literature on housing options for those with learning disabilities.
• Research on the general health needs of people with learning disabilities.
• Research on the needs of people with profound and multiple disabilities.
• Research on the needs of those with challenging behaviour.
• An analysis of those with learning disabilities who are held under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984.
• A policy paper on public education about people with learning disabilities.
• Analysis of community care plans, health improvement plans, trust implementation plans, children’s plans, Scottish Health Advisory Service reports, and relevant Social Work Services Inspectorate reports.

Adults and children

5 Our evidence and recommendations relate to services for both adults and children unless we say they are for a particular group such as older people or adolescents. Where we make recommendations relating to local authority services these should be considered by those dealing with adults and those dealing with children.

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