Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director for Adult Care, Housing and Public Health.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Notes the achievements and ongoing progress of the Learning Disability Transformation Programme as set out in the Cabinet Report “The transformation of services and support for people with a learning disability – May 2018”.

2.    Approve a minimum 90-day period of co-production to establish the views and needs of people with a learning disability, their families, and carers and younger people preparing for adulthood, regarding the future vision and strategy for people with a learning disability.

3.    Agrees to receive a further report in late Autumn 2023 proposing a refreshed strategy for people with a learning disability in Rotherham.

Consideration was given to the report submitted which summarised the achievements of the Learning Disability Transformation Programme as set out in the Cabinet Report “The transformation of services and support for people with a learning disability” in May 2018.

The report was asking Cabinet to note the achievements made to date, in particular Conway Crescent, as a respite service that was really well received.  The report mentioned some of the community services that had been developed over the years, along with the plans for Castle View, for those people with high support needs.

It was also recognised that people with a learning disability did not enjoy and equal life on every level, including equal life changes with the rest of the community.

The Council wanted to build on the success and work undertaken so far and refresh the strategy for 2023 and beyond. In order to achieve this there was a need to co-produce that vision with young adults, their families, parents, carers, and people with learning disabilities and providers who were delivering those services on the Council’s behalf.

It was anticipated that the new strategy would have a strong focus on how people with a learning disability were supported to become more independent in all areas of life.

Some of the key areas to the strategy were around how and where to live, considering how people lived, what type of supported accommodation did they need. It focused on employment and training opportunities, which was key for people with a learning disability. Consideration to be given on how they got around the borough including how they got to work in terms of travelling. It focused on advocacy and support around people making their own decisions, which was vital, along with being active members of the community. Enabling them to have the ability to contribute to what was going on in their community.

The recommendations were then proposed.

The Leader noted the significant changing in how those services were delivered over the course of the last few years, which it was believed, had realised benefits for service users and their families. It was acknowledged that it had been a big change for a lot of people, which had been at times a difficult change.   The way the service had delivered had changed quite dramatically. The fact that the disadvantage was still too great was key to this proposal, to assist people with learning disabilities to be full members of the community. It was a substantial period of consultation that would enable the Council to further explore the next steps to progress.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Noted the achievements and ongoing progress of the Learning Disability Transformation Programme as set out in the Cabinet Report “The transformation of services and support for people with a learning disability – May 2018”.

2. Approved a minimum 90-day period of co-production to establish the views and needs of people with a learning disability, their families, and carers and younger people preparing for adulthood, regarding the future vision and strategy for people with a learning disability.

3. Agreed to receive a further report in late Autumn 2023 proposing a refreshed strategy for people with a learning disability in Rotherham.