Department of Health’s response to Mencap’s campaign about services for people with learning disabilities and the abuse that took place at Winterbourne View
The Government is determined to learn lessons from Winterbourne View, drive out bad practice, improve standards and minimise the risk of abuse of vulnerable people. The department pledged to carry out a review to investigate the source of the failures at Winterbourne View, and to then set out its policy response to make sure that people with learning disabilities are supported to lead fulfilled, happy and healthy lives.
The department published an interim report of the review on 25 June, focusing on how the health and care system supports people with learning disabilities or autism and challenging behaviour. It sets out 14 national actions to improve their care and support.
The department’s final report on Winterbourne View will be published shortly. This will include the Government’s response to the findings of the Serious Case Review and an action plan to drive improvement and change. The Minister of State for Care and Support, Norman Lamb, has made it clear that the response will be robust and clear so that everybody understands what has to happen in order to effect any changes.
The department intends to strengthen safeguarding arrangements to reduce the risk of abuse and neglect of adults in vulnerable situations. However, it is the responsibility of the care provider to ensure a culture of safety, dignity and respect for those in their care, including stopping abuse before it happens. Those providers must be held to account for the care that they provide.
Ministers recognise that some people would like to see central targets and a centrally funded programme to make changes happen. However, only local action can embed good practice, reduce the risk of abuse and transform local services.
Local authorities and NHS organisations must work in partnership to develop services focused on personalised care for the identified needs of each person, whilst recognising that placing people in services away from their local area is not appropriate.
Changing commissioning behaviour and developing responsive services in the local community will require leadership at a local level. That is why the Chief Executive of the NHS Commissioning Board Authority, Sir David Nicholson, and the then Director General for Social Care, David Behan, wrote to the Chief Executives and Chairs of all NHS bodies and local authorities. Their letter set out the need for the health and care systems to work together to commission the range of services and support that will enable people to lead fulfilling and safe lives in their communities.
People with learning disabilities have as much right as anyone else to lead fulfilled, happy and healthy lives. That is why the Department will continue to work with key stakeholders, such as Mencap and the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, to support the design and development of services that deliver the best outcomes for people with learning disabilities and protect them from harm.