County Council to consult on plans to transform Learning Disability Support

Councillors have given the go-ahead to consult on changes which could transform support for people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic to help them lead independent lives.

On 10th March, Derbyshire County Council’s Cabinet agreed to seek people’s views on plans to change some day services so that people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic can lead the lives they choose to.

They heard the proposals would put people at the heart of services recognising that everyone has the potential to be an active part of their community and to lead fulfilling lives with as much independence as possible.

Support would focus on an individual’s strengths to help them gain valuable living skills, develop the confidence to lead the life they want to and develop opportunities to enable them to thrive, while maintaining some day services for people who are best supported in that environment.

Cabinet was told that fewer people are choosing building-based day opportunities, preferring instead to access a range of diverse opportunities and activities in their communities.

They agreed to consult on two options:
Option 1:

• Redesign services to move away from traditional building-based day services in favour of offering alternative opportunities.
• Expand the county council’s team of Community Connectors – trained staff who support people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic to explore opportunities that exist in their local communities.
• Create a new Support Service Team to provide more intensive practical support to people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic and their families to help them get used to the changes if they went ahead.
• Identify gaps in services and work with independent, private and voluntary providers and other organisations to develop new opportunities.
• Retain four day centres and relocate anyone that wanted to continue using these by providing transport where necessary to allow them to do this.
• A phased approach to discontinue the use of eight day centres where there is a lack of demand and people have already re-located or are being supported to choose other opportunities.

Option 2:

• Continue to run 12 day centres. This would mean the council was unable to free up investment for the re-design to a model of community-based support

In line with the democratic process, the consultation will launch on Monday 28th March when people will be able to give their views via an online questionnaire.

People with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic, their families and carers and staff affected will also be contacted directly so they can give their views and support will be provided to those who need it to express their wishes.

Cabinet Member for Adult Care Councillor Natalie Hoy said: “I’d like to reassure people that everyone’s views will be taken into consideration before any decisions are made about the future of day services.

“I understand that for some people the prospect of change can be unsettling but this is about people having the best quality of life they can possibly have. Everyone deserves to live an independent and fulfilling life.

“We know that people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic want the freedom and support to be more involved in their local community so we want to make sure the services we offer focus on their strengths to achieve their personal goals.

“While we recognise that for people with complex needs a more traditional building-based service may need to form part of their care, for others it may not be the best way to support them to lead fulfilled lives.

“Younger people in particular are already choosing to do other things and we’ve seen a reduction in the numbers of people wanting to use a day centre, something that was happening even before Covid.

“By transforming our service, we would be able to make better use of the resources we have available to help more people with learning disabilities and/or who are autistic lead more independent and fulfilled lives.”

The county council currently supports around 740 people aged 18 to 65 with learning disabilities and/or autism.