Mencap joint response to CQC reports into services for people with learning disabilities

Wednesday 21 March 2012

Learning disability charities Mencap and The Challenging Behaviour Foundation are concerned that the latest reports from the CQC reveal serious concerns about the care people with a learning disability are receiving in specialist assessment units.

Learning disability charities Mencap and The Challenging Behaviour Foundation issue joint response to Care Quality Commission (CQC) report into its review of services for people with learning disabilities

“These latest CQC reports again reveal serious concerns about the care people with a learning disability are receiving in specialist assessment units, and it is extremely worrying that 15 of the latest 19 units inspected by the CQC are not fully compliant with essential quality and safety standards.

These post-Winterbourne reviews are providing a strong justification for moving away from institutional care where people are hidden away out of sight and mind, towards developing local services. It is crucial the Government ensures these changes are made to reduce the likelihood of the abuses seen at Winterbourne View happening again.”

ENDS

The reports will be published on CQC’s web site on at 10am on Wednesday 20^thMarch.

For more information please contact Pasca Lane on 0207 696 6017 or email pasca.lane@mencap.org.uk

Notes to editors

• About Mencap

There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability and their families and carers by fighting to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also one of the largest providers of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. People with a learning disability and their carers can find out more about our services by calling Mencap Direct on 0300 333 111 or by visiting www.mencap.org.uk

• What is a learning disability?

A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities – for example household tasks, socialising or managing money – which affects someone for their whole life.

People with a learning disability tend to take longer to learn and may need support to develop new skills, understand complex information and interact with other people.

The level of support someone needs depends on individual factors, including the severity of their learning disability.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation

Behaviour can be described as challenging when it is of such an intensity, frequency or duration as to threaten the quality of life and/or the physical safety of the individual or others and it is likely to lead to responses that are restrictive, aversive or result in exclusion.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation provides information, support and training around challenging behaviour associated with severe learning disabilities, and leads the ‘Challenging Behaviour National Strategy Group’ which seeks to influence policy and practice nationally on behalf of individuals who challenge and their families.

‘Severe learning disability’ is a developmental disability meaning the individual has a significantly reduced ability to learn new skills. Individuals with severe learning disabilities typically have very limited communication skills, often non verbal, and need help with daily living skills such as eating and dressing. Challenging behaviour shown by individuals with severe learning disabilities may include aggression, self injury, disruptive and destructive behaviours, stereotyped behaviour, and is most often due to their lack of ability to communicate their needs.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation was founded in 1997 by Vivien Cooper, parent of a son with severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging. Today the Challenging Behaviour Foundation is in regular contact with over 4500 families and professionals across the UK.

There are an estimated 30,000 individuals in England with severe learning disabilities and behaviour described as challenging.

For more information visit www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk or contact:

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation

Email: info@thecbf.org.uk

Telephone: 01634 838739