Services for Adults with Profound Intellectual and Multiple Disabilities

(Limited Text - Ministerial Extracts only)

Thursday 10th February 2011 Written Statements

[The Minister of State, Department of Health (Paul Burstow)]

I am today formally launching the Government’s response to last year’s report “Raising our sights: services for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities” produced by Professor Jim Mansell of the Tizard Centre, Kent. This report is a very valuable contribution to the debate on how we can ensure that people with highly complex needs can be supported to live as independently as possible and as included and valued members of society.

The Government have made clear their commitment to improving the health and well-being of all people with learning disabilities, including those who have profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. That is why we support this report and have taken on board its central message that the major obstacles to improving outcomes for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities are prejudice, discrimination and low expectations.

As our “Vision for Adult Social Care, Capable Communities and Active Citizens” made clear we were looking to empower service users and those who care for them and to enable a more personalised, preventative service focused on delivering the best outcomes for people who need support, enabling people to live as independently as possible.

The revised “Recognised, Valued and Supported: Next Steps for the Carers Strategy” outlines the priorities over the next four years to ensure carers get the support they need. “Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS” White Paper set out our long-term vision for the NHS which puts people at the heart of everything the NHS does focuses on continuously improving the outcome of their healthcare.

The response to “Raising our Sights” responds to the report’s 33 detailed recommendations. In addition. Professor Mansell set out five key conclusions:

adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities are a relatively small, easily identified group of people with undeniable needs for care and support. Despite these needs, they and their families have often not been provided with services to adequately meet them;

the “personalisation agenda” expressed in Government policy does appear to provide a better quality of life for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities and their families. Continued progress in widening access to these kinds of services will enable more people to benefit;

there are a number of obstacles to wider implementation to which Government and other agencies should attend;

shortage of resources may influence the speed with which the recommendations of this report can be implemented but should not change the direction of policy and practice; and

learning disability partnership boards and voluntary bodies will have an even more important role in future in scrutinising services and giving voice to people with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities and their families. Government and regulatory bodies should take account of the likely effect of their work on the quality of life of adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities.

The Government accept and support these conclusions.

“Raising our sights: services for adults with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities” and the Government’s response have been placed in the Library. Copies of both documents are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.