Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Day services and home care for adults with learning disabilities across the UK
- Author:
- HATTON Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 22(2), 2017, pp.109-115.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: This paper compares data from national social care statistics on day services and home care for people with learning disabilities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Design/methodology/approach: National social care statistics (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) reporting the number of adults with learning disabilities accessing day services and home care were reviewed, with data extracted on trends over time and rate of service use. Findings: Regarding day services, despite some variations in definitions, the number of adults with learning disabilities in England, Scotland and Wales (but not Northern Ireland) using building-based day services decreased over time. Data from Scotland also indicate that adults with learning disabilities are spending less time in building-based day services, with alternative day opportunities not wholly compensating for the reduction in building-based day services. Regarding home care, there are broadly similar rates of usage across the four parts of the UK, with the number of adults with learning disabilities using home care now staying static or decreasing. Social implications: Similar policy ambitions across the four parts of the UK have resulted (with the exception of Northern Ireland) in similar trends in access to day services and home care. (Edited publisher abstract)
The factors associated with care-related quality of life of adults with intellectual disabilities in England: implications for policy and practice
- Authors:
- RAND Stacey E., MALLEY Juliette
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 25(5), 2017, pp.1607-1619.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Over the last three decades, quality of life (QoL) has been advocated as an indicator of social care outcomes for adults with intellectual disabilities. In England, the Adult Social Care Survey (ASCS) is conducted annually by local authorities to contribute to the evidence base of the care-related QoL of people receiving publicly funded adult social care. This study explores relationships between QoL and non-care-related factors to identify relationships that could inform social care policy and practice. Cross-sectional data collected from 13,642 adults who participated in the 2011 and 2012 ASCS were analysed using regression to explore the factors associated with QoL measured using the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit (ASCOT). Self-rated health, rating of the suitability of home design and anxiety/depression were all found to be significantly associated with ASCOT. Other individual and survey completion factors were also found to have weak significant relationships with ASCOT. The models also indicate that there was an increase in overall ASCOT-QoL and in five of the eight ASCOT domains (Personal comfort and cleanliness, Safety, Social participation, Occupation and Dignity) between 2011 and 2012. These findings demonstrate the potential value of QoL data for informing policy for people with intellectual disabilities by identifying key factors associated with QoL, the characteristics of those at risk of lower QoL, and QoL domains that could be targeted for improvement over time. Future research should establish causal relationships and explore the risk adjustment of scores to account for variation outside of the control of social care support. (Publisher abstract)
Deprivation of liberty applications concerning people with learning disabilities in England: trends over time and geographical variation
- Author:
- HATTON Chris
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 22(3), 2017, pp.177-183.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse trends over time and geographical variation in Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) applications for adults with learning disabilities. Design/methodology/approach: Secondary analysis of national- and local authority-level statistics collected and reported by NHS Digital. Findings: There has been a sharp national increase in the number of completed and granted DoLS applications regarding adults with learning disabilities since the 2014 “Cheshire West” Supreme Court judgement, with a greater proportion of completed DoLS applications being granted. There is extreme geographical variation across local authorities in England in the rates at which DoLS applications are being made and granted. Practical implications: The extreme variation in DoLS applications regarding adults with learning disabilities is highly unlikely to be a function of differences in mental capacity and living circumstances experienced by adults with learning disabilities across local authorities, and urgent attention needs to be paid to this variation. Originality/value: This is the first paper to analyse the geographical variation at local authority level for completed and granted DoLS applications regarding adults with learning disabilities. (Publisher abstract)
Estimating the number of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland and the cohort at elevated risk of early onset dementia
- Author:
- STUART Claire
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 22(3), 2017, pp.164-171.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to estimate the size of the population of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland in order to provide a basis for estimating likely numbers of people with dementia in Down’s syndrome at a range of ages. Design/methodology/approach: Recorded data were requested from all general practitioner (GP) services in Scotland on people with an identified READ code denoting Down’s syndrome. A statistical weighting model was then applied to account for non-response bias. Findings: There were 3,261 people with Down’s syndrome estimated by the application of a statistical weighting model. Of these, 1,118 people (34 percent) were aged between 40 and 59. This age banding includes the age groups reported as having the highest incidence of early onset dementia in Down’s syndrome. Research limitations/implications: It is not possible to apply a benchmark to the percentage of observed data which gives an indication of how accurate the estimates produced are. Rather, the quality of the estimates depends on the response rate itself and the extent to which response is correlated with the outcome variable. In short, the quality of the final weighted estimates depends on the extent to which the biasing effect is mitigated by the weighting. As a result, a different response rate to this survey would have resulted in variations in the weighting model and therefore provided a different set of estimates. Social implications: Adults with Down’s syndrome have an elevated risk of developing dementia significantly earlier than the general population and require specific age appropriate supports and services to meet their needs both pre and post-diagnosis. The reality of this is currently not fully realized in either standard practice or national policy concerning the issue. Originality/value: This is the first set of data collected from GP services in Scotland to examine this issue and attempt to identify the population of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland as a whole. (Publisher abstract)
Commentary on “Estimating the number of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland and the cohort at elevated risk of early onset dementia”
- Author:
- DODD Karen
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 22(3), 2017, pp.172-176.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to consider the implications for people with Down’s syndrome and their families of identifying those people who are at risk of developing dementia from the research study “Estimating the number of people with Down’s syndrome in Scotland and the cohort at elevated risk of early onset dementia”. Design/methodology/approach: The commentary is based on a review of the associated literature. Findings: Estimating the numbers is important but has serious implications for people who have an elevated risk and their families. Preparation and ongoing support and planning are vital to ensure that quality of life is maintained as dementia is identified and progresses. Originality/value: The commentary considers the research presented from a practitioner perspective. (Publisher abstract)
Named social workers – better social work for learning disabled people?
- Authors:
- JAMES Elaine, MORGAN Hannah, MITCHELL Rob
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 32(10), 2017, pp.1650-1655.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In 2016, the Department of Health in England announced that it would pilot the role of Named Social Worker. The authors chose to be part of the pilot because they regularly witness too many people’s lives being defined by restrictions imposed by professionals. Erroneous associations between the concepts of risk and danger have become the norm in how learning disabled people’s decision-making is perceived and managed. However, the authors believe social workers educated in the social model of disability and grounded more generally in disability studies offer an alternative perspective. The pilot is an opportunity to test our hypothesis that social work practice rooted in social model thinking can successfully challenge oppressive practice and disabling barriers, thus providing the opportunity for social workers to genuinely be ‘servants not masters’ in the lives of disabled people. (Edited publisher abstract)
Statistics on Community Care for Adults in Northern Ireland 2016 - 2017
- Author:
- NORTHERN IRELAND. Department of Health. Community Information Branch
- Publisher:
- Northern Ireland. Department of Health. Community Information Branch
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 92
- Place of publication:
- Belfast
Statistical information on community care services gathered from health and social care (HSC) trusts. It includes details of contacts with HSC trusts, care packages in effect, meals on wheels services, residential and nursing accommodation and day care registrations. It reports that between 1 April 2016 and 31 March 2017, 28,653 people in the Elderly Care, Learning Disability and Physical and Sensory Disability POC’s were in contact with HSC Trusts. As at 30 June 2017, there were 5,238 residential places available, a 1 per cent increase from the previous year. Of these 59 per cent were in independent residential homes, while 21 per cent were in statutory residential homes and 20 per cent in dual registered nursing homes. (Edited publisher abstract)
A new deal for counties: adult social care and health integration
- Author:
- COUNTY COUNCILS NETWORK
- Publisher:
- County Councils Network
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 8
- Place of publication:
- London
Sets out how Government must work in partnership with local authorities and counties to radically reform services and find solutions to long-standing challenges, namely the sustainability of social care and the need to integrate health, social care and public health, during a period of uncertainty. The paper argues that to support a locally-led system that is fair and equitable for service users and taxpayers, providing support to vulnerable residents with care needs and disabilities, the Government must address the following issues: bridging the funding gap; reviewing BCF funding guidance, particularly over the use of the additional £2bn; a new deal for social care and long-term funding solutions; limiting social care costs to residents; recognition of the growing pressures associated with learning disabilities; and investing in public health provision in order to underpin a long-term, resident focused and sustainable health and social care system. In addition, the paper suggests that providing the conditions for true health and social care integration in counties will facilitate the delivery of high quality local care, improve discharge rates from hospital and help improve outcomes for patients. Government and counties, working together, will need to: reduce delayed transfers of care due to adult social care; ensure that the integration footprints are of sufficient size and scale and aligned with County Health and Wellbeing Board geographies; strengthen the role of Health and Wellbeing Boards; ensure that there is a mandate role for local authorities on Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships; remove barriers to integration, including those relating to information sharing and conflicting incentives and targets; and promote integrated housing services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Co-producing technology: harnessing digital solutions for social care
- Authors:
- VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS DISABILITY GROUP, NATIONAL CARE FORUM
- Publisher:
- Voluntary Organisations Disability Group
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 18
- Place of publication:
- London
This paper explores ways in which people who use services can contribute to the design of successful digital solutions and how these solutions are changing the way that social care and health services are being delivered. The paper provides examples good practice covering three perspectives. The locality perspective shows how Leeds is using technology to support the health and wellbeing of older and disabled people. Through a “smart city” approach it is looking at how to use data to deliver a more coordinated approach to health and social care. The integration perspective describes how technology is being used in the vanguard sites to support the integration health and social care in the vanguard sites. The practitioner perspective describes how Camphill Village Trust have invested in their own app to support people with learning disabilities to develop the skills and confidence to use social media safely. The report identifies key messages from the examples that can help to help maximise the benefits of technology. These include: the importance of user engagement and co-production; leadership that promotes co-production and champions technology; and the need to consider the benefits of digital technology for older and disabled people, who often have the most to gain from the technology. (Edited publisher abstract)
Equity in social care for people with intellectual disabilities? A cross-sectional study examining the distribution of social care funding across local authorities in England
- Authors:
- CHINN Deborah, LEVITAN Tony, MURRELLS Trevor
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 25(3), 2017, pp.901-911.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study explores relationships between resources allocated to community services for people with intellectual disabilities in England and geographical factors, including deprivation, rurality and political leadership in the local authorities (LAs) where these individuals reside. Data were sourced from publicly available reports of spending of 151 English councils with adult social services responsibilities (CASSRs) for 2013–2014 and from CASSR index of multiple deprivation (IMD) scores and rurality for the same period. The study found that more deprived LAs supported more people with intellectual disabilities, per 100,000 of population. It found no effects for rurality or political party. However, it was not the case that more deprived LAs allocated more funds for expenditure on this group. These findings point to inequities in the distribution of social care resources for people with intellectual disabilities in England, as although more deprived LAs support more people with intellectual disabilities, they do not spend proportionally larger sums of money on this group. The authors discuss possible explanations for these findings and highlight the need for more research, particularly investigations about allocation of resources within LAs and more detailed explorations of how structural factors such as socioeconomic status of service users effects service access at the local level. (Edited publisher abstract)