Since the Winterbourne View abuse scandal in 2011, too many people with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
and behaviour that challenges are ending up in inpatient units, where they can remain for too long, often far from their families.
In response, Mencap, the
Challenging Behaviour
Challenging behaviour can be when someone hurts themselves, hits or pinches someone else, or breaks something. Some people might behave like this because they are upset or because people do not understand them.
Foundation, Respond, CHANGE, families and Irwin Mitchell Solicitors have developed Meeting The Challenge – a series of guides for families of people with a learning disability and behaviour that challenges, and guides for people with a learning disability and their supporters.
Using the guides
The Meeting The Challenge guides explain the
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
of individuals and their families.
We hope that if people know their rights, this will help make sure they get the support they need in the
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
and help address the fact that too many people are in inpatient settings like
Assessment
An assessment is a way of finding out what help a person needs. When you have an assessment, you might have to go to a meeting or fill in a form.
and Treatment units.
The resources have been funded by the Department of Health’s Strategic Partners Programme.
We would like to thank everyone who has acted as a critical reader for all or parts of the guides, including families, TV Edwards Solicitors and Doughty Street Chambers.
Return to Displaying Challenging Behaviour section
Click here to return to the Displaying Challenging Behaviour section and access the Meeting The Challenge resources