Better Outcomes for People with a Learning Disability


Quality Network Public Statements

   
Organisation Bedforshire & Luton NHS Trust
Type NHS Trust
Services included Community Homes and Supported Living Projects
Contact name Suelle Wright
Tel. 01234 310516
Email suelle.wright@bshc-tr.anglox.nhs.uk
Public Statement 2001      
Our services

We provide specialist medical and therapy services to people with learning disabilities on an in patient and out patient basis. We also provide community residential services. There are 24 community homes and 3 supported living projects.

Our service also includes a multidisciplinary community team.

The community residential service reviewThe review took place between September 2000 and January 2001. Eleven service users from eleven of the community homes were visited as part of the review.The review team included :Two home managers,an advocate, two parents, a CHC representative,a non-executive director of the trust, a lead clinician, a practise development worker and a representative from our Joint Commissioning Agency.

Findings - What was going well;

  • People were supported whatever their health need was
  • Some people had more contact with their families since they had moved away from the long stay hospital
  • Some people were supported by staff from the same ethnic background
  • Some people were very involved within their home

What we need to improve;

  • We need to find ways of offering more choice to people who have limited communication skills
  • We need to extend the opportunities for people to be involved in making decisions about their lives
  • We need to look at where people are currently living and ensure it is with people of their choice and that it meets their needs
  • We need to ensure that people get the opportunity to meet and have friends who may or may not have a learning disability (and who aren't being paid to be with them )

Action plan

The main steps we intend to take as a result of the review are;

  • We want to ensure that each individual, whether a service user or a staff member is valued and treated with respect.
  • To ensure that the service users are involved in decision making about their lives.
  • To create an organisational culture and systems which will enable us to prevent, challenge and eliminate all harassment and abuse.
  • To ensure people are able to maintain relationships with families and friends and support people to develop new relationships- including with those who don't have a learning disability or aren't paid.

When will they be completed

We have set goals and a timescale for each of the actions and all will be completed within twelve months.

For more information, contact:

Suella Wright, Homes Care Manager
Bedfordshire and Luton Community NHS Trust
Learning Disability Service
Twinwoods Health Resource Centre
Milton Road, Clapham
MK41 6AT
Phone - 01234 310516
Fax - 01234 310529
Email - suelle.wright@bshc-tr.anglox.nhs.uk

February 2001

Action Plan

Aim #1
To ensure that each individual, whether a service user or a staff member is valued and treated with respect

Goals
To communicate to the trust board the philosophy, aims and implications of delivering a modern quality learning disability serviceTo produce a brochure about our values as an organisation and for each individual home

Aim #2
To ensure that people with a learning disabilities are involved in decision making about their lives

Goals
To provide training, support and time for everyone involved in meetings and producing papers which impact on peoples livesTo provide a template for accessible care plans

Aim # 3
To create an organisational culture and systems which will enable us to prevent, challenge and eliminate all harassment and abuse

Goals
To find flexible alternatives to locking peoples doors to protect propertyTo make sure that other agencies appreciate the urgency of people having appropriate living environments with people of their choice

Aim #4
To ensure people are able to maintain relationships with families and friends and support people to develop new relationships- including with those who don't have a learning disability or aren't paid

Goals
To increase people's opportunities to make friends through regular participation in community activities To support people to maintain relationships through meetings, phone calls letters and postcards etc

back to organisations