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Independence or protection – does it have to be a choice? Reflections on the abuse of people with learning disabilities in Cornwall
- Authors:
- FYSON Rachel, KITSON Deborah
- Journal article citation:
- Critical Social Policy, 27(3), August 2007, pp.426-436.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This commentary uses recent events in Cornwall to highlight the ongoing abuse of adults with learning disabilities in England. It critically explores how two parallel policy agendas - the promotion of choice and independence for adults with learning disabilities and the development of adult protection policies - have failed to connect, thus allowing abuse to continue to flourish. It is argued that the abuse of people with learning disabilities can only be minimized by policies that reflect an understanding that choice and independence must necessarily be mediated by effective adult protection measures. Such protection needs to include not only an appropriate regulatory framework, access to justice and well-qualified staff, but also a more critical and reflective approach to the current orthodoxy that promotes choice and independence as the only acceptable goals for any person with a learning disability.
Planning for change? Learning disability joint investment plans and implementing the Valuing People White Paper
- Authors:
- WARD Linda, FYSON Rachel, WATSON Debby
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Integrated Care, 12(3), June 2004, pp.11-19.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Valuing People outlined ambitious plans for improving services for people with learning disabilities in England. Strategies to realise these goals were to be taken forward through the new structure of learning disability partnership boards, based in the first instance on local joint investment plans (JIPs). Reports findings from an analysis of the first round of learning disability JIPs compiled as the implementation of the White Paper began, and reviews the implications for the development of robust local strategies and action plans.
Making valuing people work: strategies for change in services for people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- FYSON Rachel, WARD Linda
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 88p.
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
In its creation, Valuing People represented a radical departure from the traditional processes of Whitehall policy development. For the first time, people with learning disabilities were actively involved in the working parties from which the White Paper was developed; their views, needs, ambitions, and dreams were reflected in the final document. Subsequent to the White Paper’s publication, the involvement of both service users and family carers has continued to be an important element of the implementation process; in particular they have had an important role to play in Learning Disability Partnership Boards. These new structures within local government aim to bring together key local stakeholders, including people with learning difficulties and family carers as well as social services and health and a wide range of providers of services, in order to raise awareness of learning disability issues beyond the specialist services and plan for the implementation of the changes the White Paper required. Taking as its starting point the assumption that effective implementation of Valuing People would require significant changes to services at both a strategic and operational level, the Strategies for Change project posed a number of questions: How can local strategies be developed which reflect the needs, wishes and concerns of local populations? How can people with learning disabilities and family carers be involved effectively in the work of Partnership Boards? How can the types of support offered to people with learning disabilities be changed, to enable people to take more control over their own lives? What role should commissioners of learning disability services play in bringing about these changes? How have people with learning disabilities experienced previous changes to their support services and how can these changes be user-led?