Written Question · S4W-28111 · Session 4
What support it provides to adults with (a) learning disabilities and (b) mental health issues in care homes.
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to adults with (a) learning disabilities and (b) mental health issues in care homes.
The answer
The Scottish Government is continuing to support people with learning disabilities living in care homes through the implementation of The keys to life in Scotland, and the development of a strategic plan, with identified outcomes to support the delivery of The keys to life – the Scottish learning disabilities strategy. This will concentrate on outcomes and key activities to support their achievement including supporting work with partners to ensure that people with learning disabilities are protected from neglect, exploitation and abuse.
National health and social care policy in Scotland is placing increasing emphasis on supporting people at home wherever possible. This applies to adults with learning disabilities, including those with the most complex needs. However, it is recognised that residential care for people with learning disabilities is still a choice and in some circumstances the best option to meet their outcomes. There is however, a need to ensure that the quality and consistency of these care homes ensures good outcomes for the residents. That is why the Scottish Government has asked Scotland Excel to develop a national framework agreement for the procurement of residential care.
We also worked with the Care Inspectorate to ensure care homes for adults with learning disabilities, as part of their inspections, asked about their awareness of two important reports: the Scottish Government’s The keys to life strategy for people with learning disabilities and recommendations from the report into Winterbourne View Hospital. This work will enable the Care Inspectorate to develop a more detailed inspection focus area in future inspections.
The Scottish Government is enhancing specialist support for people in dementia living in care homes and continues to invest around £500,000 per year in up skilling the dementia workforce which includes training and supporting staff providing specialist support for people with dementia living in care homes. To date over 800 Dementia Ambassadors are working in care homes, 70% of which are working in residential care and covering 350 services.
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National health and social care policy in Scotland is placing increasing emphasis on supporting people at home wherever possible. This applies to adults with learning disabilities, including those with the most complex needs. However, it is recognised that residential care for people with learning disabilities is still a choice and in some circumstances the best option to meet their outcomes. There is however, a need to ensure that the quality and consistency of these care homes ensures good outcomes for the residents. That is why the Scottish Government has asked Scotland Excel to develop a national framework agreement for the procurement of residential care.
We also worked with the Care Inspectorate to ensure care homes for adults with learning disabilities, as part of their inspections, asked about their awareness of two important reports: the Scottish Government’s The keys to life strategy for people with learning disabilities and recommendations from the report into Winterbourne View Hospital. This work will enable the Care Inspectorate to develop a more detailed inspection focus area in future inspections.
The Scottish Government is enhancing specialist support for people in dementia living in care homes and continues to invest around £500,000 per year in up skilling the dementia workforce which includes training and supporting staff providing specialist support for people with dementia living in care homes. To date over 800 Dementia Ambassadors are working in care homes, 70% of which are working in residential care and covering 350 services.
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In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-28111 by reference.