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New report examines the adult social care experiences of people with learning difficulties

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 8th February 2021
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The report emphasises the importance of independent living, improving self-directed support, and protecting access to non-statutory support.

A new report (this link will take you away from our website) by Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute has gathered evidence of people with learning difficulties’ experiences of adult social care in Scotland. They found that a decade of change has shown some positive impacts, but further work remains to be done in key areas.

Amongst its findings, the report highlights the relative success of moving support away from hospital and institutional care into community-based care. This move was backed by substantial investment, and sets a helpful example for future reform to adult social care.

They were also told that although self-directed support should improve outcomes, the complexity of the system has made it difficult for many people with learning difficulties to navigate. The ALLIANCE have previously published our own “My Support, My Choice” research into self-directed support, which found that people with learning difficulties were more likely than others to feel that they hadn’t been given enough information. This further emphasises the need to ensure the information necessary to support decision-making is made available to people in a consistent and accessible manner.

Other key findings of the report relate to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in a substantial reduction in support services. Non-statutory services are often essential to enabling people with learning difficulties to realise their right to independent living, and there are fears the support won’t return to pre-pandemic levels.

The full report is available on the FAI’s website. (this link will take you away from our website)

It is also available in an easy read format. (this link will take you away from our website)

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