Better Outcomes for People with a Learning Disability

Quality Network Public Statements

Our Services

In line with one of the key objectives stipulated in the White Paper 'Valuing People' (DOH 2001)
and the organisation's commitment to modernise its existing day provision and endeavour
to offer a quality driven, individualised approach to service delivery. It was decided and identified
in Walsall's 'Integrated Learning Disability's Service Plan' (2003- 2004) to hold a 'Quality Network Review' on existing day service provision.

Historically, Walsall Health and Social Care has provided a traditional based day service for 282 adults with a learning disability delivered primarily from four sites across the borough of Walsall.

In the last six months, 'Willenhall Community Services' have evolved and developed, they promote and offer meaningful day opportunities for 25 service users with varying degrees of learning disabilities.

This community-based service is delivered from an annexe in a local school and from rooms situated in a local Community Centre - both in the heart of a local community.

A decision was made not to involve service users accessing the newly created ' Willenhall Community Services' in the initial 'Quality Network Review', but to include the new service in the second stage of the reviewing process.

The Service Review

Walsall's Integrated Learning Disabilities Service review of their in house day provision took place over a six-week period between June and July 2003. During this time all members of the reviewing team attended three workshops facilitated by our 'Quality Coach', Dave Spencer. In addition, each member of the team made three to four individual visits to the person; they were paired up with.

The 11 service users who took part in the reviewing process were representative of the people who access our day provision in terms of age, gender, race and level of ability. However, it has been recognised that only two service users chosen to take part in the reviewing process were between the ages of 41 - 50+. Therefore, it is our intention in the second year of the 'Quality Network Review' (2004) to correct this omission.

The majority of the service users taking part in this service review access their day provision across three venues in the borough. Only one of the service users visited received their individual day service package from one of the independent providers commissioned from a select list.

Sites visited in the review include:

• Goscote Resource Centre
• Brewer Street Resource Centre
• Northgate Resource Centre

The group represented consisted of six men and five women and their age and ethnicity are as follows:

• 4 White and 1 Asian service user between 21 - 30 years of age
• 2 Asian, 1 White and 1 African Caribbean service user between 31 - 40 years of age
• 1 White service user between 41- 50 years of age
• 1 White service user 50 +

The Review Team Members included:

• Michelle Law, Service User
• Edith Green, Supporter to Service User
• Jonathan Garrington, Service User
• Pat Nye, Supporter to Service User
• Chris Stringer, Carer
• Tina Jenkins, Day Centre Officer
• Anne Middlemiss, Service Manager
• Amarjit Sanga, Team Co-ordinator - Learning Disabilities
• Pauline Martin, Clinical Lead Nurse
• Darren Evans, Day Centre Officer
• Gurmet Thakhar, Senior Support Worker
• Annalene Cooper, Day Centre Officer
• Carol Curtis, Support Services Manager

Findings - What was going well

• Most Service Users including those with complex needs make everyday choices
• Family Involvement is high on our list
• Service User involvement is important to us
• Health Care is taken seriously
• More Service Users with Complex needs are members of the 'Better Days' Group
• Most Service Users feel respected
• Most Service Users feel safe during their day activities
• Most Service users with support are aware of how to complain
• Most Service feel supported by the staff working in our day services
• Family members are aware of how to complain if they need to

Things we need to work on:

• Transport Services need to be more accessible and flexible
• We need to create more opportunities for service users to meet other people and improve and increase service user's relationships if desired
• Increased Advocacy support is needed for service users with complex needs
• Information needs to be available in a way that all service users can understand
• Wider access to the local community needs to be increased and made accessible to all service users
• More culturally based services need to be promoted
• Work opportunities / experience should be made available for service users with complex needs
• Activities delivered in day services should be more meaningful to the individual
• Increased choice and opportunities should be available for all service users accessing day services
• Day activities / opportunities, the variety offered should be improved and increased

Summary

As an integrated Learning Disability Service, the organisation is fully committed to carry on with the
'Quality Network Review' process for a further two years and thereby aims to increase the quality of
its current and future services. We plan to review our Service Action Plan in February 2004 and carry out our second 'Quality Network Review' in November 2004.

The outcome of this review will be utilised in formulating a baseline assessment of the existing day service delivered in Walsall and seek to benchmark its current service.

Walsall's Health and Social Care Day Service intends to incorporate the findings of its 'Quality Network Review' (2003) and the subsequent action plan into the day service modernisation programme. This will be steered by the 'Learning Disabilities Partnership Board', and the 'Better Days' and 'Fulfilling Lives' groups.

For further information, please contact:

Carol Curtis, Support Services Manager on 01922 636215