People with a learning disability and / or autismwill be supported to lead more independent lives and have a greater say about the support they receive under a plan published today to radically improve learning disability services across Greater Manchester.
Central to the three-year plan will be new, high-quality, community-based services allowing people with a learning disability and/or autism to benefit from new, better care options.
Greater Manchester currently has 2,500 patients with learning disabilities who require full-time care or high-levels of support. Some of these people are in secure placements while others are not.
The reshaping of services will ensure that more community based support is provided to individuals, where appropriate, continuing the long-term shift away from institutional care. Services will also better address the wider needs of people with learning disabilities, implementing processes to support issues such as physical health, social care and employment.
The programme sits within plans to devolve powers of health and social care to Greater Manchester authorities, and will utilise new and existing funding to transform the models of care across the region with a combined budget of £6million coming from national and regional funding streams.
It was announced today that a total of £3million will be provided to Greater Manchester via NHS England’s Fast Track Transformation Fund.
If successful the scheme will see a halving in the need for non-secure accommodation across Greater Manchester by 2019.
A minimum of 30 beds will be kept available, allowing for stays of between 6 to 24 months for severe patients needing continuing care or rehab
A reduction in the number of low secure accommodation by a third by 2019, with improved out-reach support helping to prevent avoidable admissions
The vision will be launched at an event on Monday, where an action plan will be developed to deliver the improvements.
Around 150 people are expected to attend, from the councils, the NHS, third sector and representatives of families and service users.
Caroline Kurzeja, Chief Officer at South Manchester Clinical Commissioning Group, who played a lead role in the Fast Track funding bid, said: “At the moment Greater Manchester is out of kilter with the rest of the country because it has a very high use of learning disability places out of our area. We want to be able to move eligible patients back to the areas and communities they are from and much closer to their loved ones – because we know this has benefits for all involved.
“Greater Manchester has 2,500 learning disability patients – and just like any other patients – they need care packages with a clear outline of the services they will receive and expected results.
“It won’t be an easy process – but it’s the right thing to do to improve quality of life for both patients and their families and it will also help to address any issues of fragmentation in care due to distance.”
