Tizard Learning Disability Review, 11(1), February 2006, pp.35-43.
Publisher:
Emerald
In 2004/2005 local partnership boards requested West Midlands South and Birmingham & The Black Country Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) to review and report back on the circumstances of adults with a learning disability placed out of area. This review investigates, through questionnaires, information on 623 people and more detailed qualitative information on 111 people prioritised for visits by the district commissioners of services. The review found an increase in the number of out-of-are placements. With lack of monitoring and reviewing of placements, many people have been left solely to the care of provider organisations. The review calls for specific action to be taken to reverse this trend of increasing out-of-area placements and to make cost-effective local solutions.
In 2004/2005 local partnership boards requested West Midlands South and Birmingham & The Black Country Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) to review and report back on the circumstances of adults with a learning disability placed out of area. This review investigates, through questionnaires, information on 623 people and more detailed qualitative information on 111 people prioritised for visits by the district commissioners of services. The review found an increase in the number of out-of-are placements. With lack of monitoring and reviewing of placements, many people have been left solely to the care of provider organisations. The review calls for specific action to be taken to reverse this trend of increasing out-of-area placements and to make cost-effective local solutions.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, placement, social services, out-of-area placement;
University of London. Institute of Education. Thomas Coram Research Unit
Publication year:
2006
Pagination:
24p., bibliog.
Place of publication:
London
This report is intended to act as a resource for local authorities and others, to assist them in consulting young people with learning disabilities about the services they receive.
This report is intended to act as a resource for local authorities and others, to assist them in consulting young people with learning disabilities about the services they receive.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, local authorities, service users, social services, user views;
As people with learning difficulties live longer, their carers become correspondingly older. This article looks at a council project in south London which is helping meet the needs of older carers.
As people with learning difficulties live longer, their carers become correspondingly older. This article looks at a council project in south London which is helping meet the needs of older carers.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, needs, older people, social services, support groups, carers;
The development of the children’s trust model for delivery of local services is at the heart of legislation and policy regarding all children and young people. The development of the pathfinder children’s trust’s work has been at the forefront in taking forward the duties set out in the Children Act 2004. Thirty five pathfinder children’s trusts were announced in 2003. Their brief was to improve partnership working and try out ways of doing this which suited local needs. Each children’s trust had a specific area which they identified as a focus for the development of an effective model. A third of the children’s trusts had identified disabled children’s services as their priority areas of work.
The development of the children’s trust model for delivery of local services is at the heart of legislation and policy regarding all children and young people. The development of the pathfinder children’s trust’s work has been at the forefront in taking forward the duties set out in the Children Act 2004. Thirty five pathfinder children’s trusts were announced in 2003. Their brief was to improve partnership working and try out ways of doing this which suited local needs. Each children’s trust had a specific area which they identified as a focus for the development of an effective model. A third of the children’s trusts had identified disabled children’s services as their priority areas of work.
Extended abstract:
Author
WHEATLEY Helen.
Title
Pathways to success: good practice guide for children's services in the development of services for disabled children: evidence from the pathfinder children's trusts.
Publisher
Council for Disabled Children, 2006
Summary
This guide looks at the development and learning from pathfinder children's trusts and how support and services can be improved.
Context
The development of the children's trust model for delivery of local services is at the heart of legislation and policy regarding all children and young people. The development of the pathfinder children's trust's work has been at the forefront in taking forward the duties set out in the Children Act 2004. Thirty-five pathfinder children's trusts were announced in 2003. Their brief was to improve partnership working and try out ways of doing this which suited local needs. Each children's trust had a specific area which they identified as a focus for the development of an effective model. A third of the children's trusts had identified disabled children's services as their priority areas of work.
Contents
An introduction outlines the development of the children's trust model for delivery of local services, describing the brief of the 35 trusts announced in 2003, the interest generated, and the origins of the project leading to this guide. The development of children's trusts is described. The trusts were asked to identify key work areas they would be concentrating one including areas of particular concern, and common threads were identified. Priorities included agreeing shared aims and objectives within the strategic planning framework and across agencies; agreement of workstreams across agencies; developing an effective communication strategy; pooling budgets; making the children's trust a priority in wider authority/council business; co-location of mixed staff teams; joint training for staff groups; linking in with the development of extended schools/services; transition to adulthood for disabled young people; and participation of parents and young people. From these came a number of workstreams. The bulk of the guide describes the key work areas: strategic planning; commissioning services and pooling budgets; joint working and co-location; assessment process and information sharing; keyworking and lead professionals; developing capacity for change; transition to adulthood; evaluation; participation of disabled children and young people; and participation of parents and carers in children's trusts. Sections give the background, legislation and guidance, good practice, key elements of success, and a conclusion.
Conclusion
A final section on 'The future' says the aims of developing local children's trust arrangements have been well received in most areas. There is real evidence of change which has led to an improvement in services and support. The approach has been flexible to accommodate local needs. Much has been achieved but there is still much to do. As the role of children's trusts continues to develop it is becoming evident that other developing initiatives are not always interlinking with the children's trust agenda and in some instances are duplicating or going in a different direction. Examples are given. In the move towards further integrated services it is essential to ensure all services are included in changes. Appendices give and extract from the job description for the post of Disabled Children Integrated Services Manager at the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, an article on the problem of developing inter-agency transition pathways for disabled and special needs young people in Leicester , and notes on key elements of success in parents' participation in children's trusts.
45 references
ISBN 1 904787 8
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social services, social care provision, vulnerable children, Childrens Trusts, collaboration;
British Journal of Social Work, 36(5), June 2006, pp.723-741.
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
A survey of all social services departments in England was undertaken in order to identify and investigate current work concerning the participation of disabled children within decision making regarding their own care and in service development. Developing a culture of, and good practice in, children’s participation is integral to government policy. Results demonstrate that disabled children are being involved in a range of decision-making areas; however, participation is not yet embedded or sustained across all social services departments, and the involvement of disabled children at a higher strategic level is still rare. The participation of disabled children needs further development including more evidence on which factors can support and promote disabled children’s effective participation.
A survey of all social services departments in England was undertaken in order to identify and investigate current work concerning the participation of disabled children within decision making regarding their own care and in service development. Developing a culture of, and good practice in, children’s participation is integral to government policy. Results demonstrate that disabled children are being involved in a range of decision-making areas; however, participation is not yet embedded or sustained across all social services departments, and the involvement of disabled children at a higher strategic level is still rare. The participation of disabled children needs further development including more evidence on which factors can support and promote disabled children’s effective participation.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, participation, physical disabilities, social services, surveys, young people, children, decision making;
International Journal of Integrated Care, 6(4), 2006, Online only
Publisher:
International Foundation for Integrated Care
The article describes the development of a practical model of joint, integrated inspection of managed care services for people with learning disabilities in Scotland. The model will give a reliable measure of the impact services are making to people's lives and the quality of service that individuals are actually receiving. At present health, social services and education services for people with learning disabilities in Scotland are inspected separately, by up to nine different agencies. The first joint, integrated inspections of all services for people with learning disabilities in Scotland will take place in 2006. This is the first inspection of its kind in the UK, and the first to involve carers and people with learning disabilities on the inspection team. Quality Outcome Indicators were developed in 21 different areas, or domains. Evidence based best practice, and evaluative data from previous inspections were the primary sources of data. This paper reviews the background and rationale for the integrated, joint inspection process. Strengths and constraints of this approach to inspection are discussed, including the crucial importance of commitment from services and from inspectors, rather than mere compliance with demands. Some guidance on how to fully involve staff, carers and services users in the inspection process is given. It is concluded that the model will produce data to inform decision-making for managers in integrated services and give services users clear information about how well local needs are being met, what areas need development, and what capacity the organisations have to improve. The model of inspection may be of interest to practitioners in a national and international context. The model will be evaluated, following the first joint inspection.
The article describes the development of a practical model of joint, integrated inspection of managed care services for people with learning disabilities in Scotland. The model will give a reliable measure of the impact services are making to people's lives and the quality of service that individuals are actually receiving. At present health, social services and education services for people with learning disabilities in Scotland are inspected separately, by up to nine different agencies. The first joint, integrated inspections of all services for people with learning disabilities in Scotland will take place in 2006. This is the first inspection of its kind in the UK, and the first to involve carers and people with learning disabilities on the inspection team. Quality Outcome Indicators were developed in 21 different areas, or domains. Evidence based best practice, and evaluative data from previous inspections were the primary sources of data. This paper reviews the background and rationale for the integrated, joint inspection process. Strengths and constraints of this approach to inspection are discussed, including the crucial importance of commitment from services and from inspectors, rather than mere compliance with demands. Some guidance on how to fully involve staff, carers and services users in the inspection process is given. It is concluded that the model will produce data to inform decision-making for managers in integrated services and give services users clear information about how well local needs are being met, what areas need development, and what capacity the organisations have to improve. The model of inspection may be of interest to practitioners in a national and international context. The model will be evaluated, following the first joint inspection.
Subject terms:
inspection, integrated services, joint working, learning disabilities, models, outcomes, performance indicators, social services, user participation, education, health care;