Hampshire Learning Disability Plan for Adults – Tell us what you think! Responses to the 16 September – 6 December 2013 public consultation Rachel Dittrich Research Manager Hampshire County Council Executive summary Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership Board ran a consultation to find out what people with a learning disability, their carers and families
Feedback on the ‘About This Plan’ part (pages 3-7 of the Plan) What people liked Page 6: “Good communication” (one person said they liked this) Page 6: “Clear information” (three people) Page 6: “Continuity of staff” (two people) Page 6: “Person centred” (one person) Page 7: “Respect us” (one person) What people didn’t like One person was disappointed that page 4 said “This Plan includes people with a learning disability who are from black and ethnic minorities” because they thought that ethnicity should not be a barrier in this day and age. Two people said that the Valuing People Now statement quoted on page 4, “… the same chances and responsibilities as everyone else”, is not right for people with profound learning disabilities. A group said pages 6 and 7 have words that are too difficult to understand, such as ‘transition’ and ‘continuity of staff’. They said easier words should be used, like ‘preparing us for change’ instead of ‘transition’. One person said the bit on Person Centred Plans on page 6 should say ‘Everyone is entitled to have support to produce a Person Centred Plan and invite who they want to attend to help them compose one – which belongs to them - with copies going to those family members, social workers, doctors etc., they would like to have a copy.’ What is missing One person said page 3 only talks about good things that have happened, but bad things have happened too. Some people have lost support because of budget cuts in local government. The person thought the Plan should say some things have not been good and that the Plan is trying to make things better. Page 7 talks about ‘Good transition’. One group wanted information on
What people didn’t like One person and a group said some of the pictures are too small and unclear One person it would be better if each subject were in different colour. A group said ‘care staff’ should be changed to ‘support staff’. Page 8: two groups said the words under the picture are not right. They said ‘fits their needs’ should be changed to ‘meet/respond to their needs’. Page 9: two people and one group pointed out that ‘CRB’ should be ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’. Page 9: a group said bubbles 3 and 6 should be made into one. Page 9: a group said bubble 4 should be changed to ‘be supported by people who I choose and who know me well.’ Page 9: one person and a group said in bubble 6 ‘the provider services’ should be changed to ‘my support services’. Page 10: one person was not happy with the words “Care staff are valued and motivated to do a good job (including recognition of the value financially i.e. not just paying minimum wage” as they thought it would be too expensive for their Personal Budget and would mean they had to cut their support hours a lot. Page 11: three groups and one person said the second paragraph “Ensure that there is continuity of staff” does not make sense and is very confusing. Page 11: one person did not like the bit about continuity of staff. They said continuity is not always a good thing as staff sometimes do things they shouldn’t when they work with someone for a long time. Page 11: two people wanted the technology mentioned to be explained. They asked if it includes Eye Gaze Technology. Pages12-13: a group said a lot of the promises on these pages could be joint promises. Pages 12-3: two groups said the promises are too wordy, especially paragraph 4 on page 12. Page 12: a group said that the paragraphs about person-centred planning should say the plans should be in-depth so that people can use them properly.
Page 17: “Educate the community to be more inclusive...” (one person said this was one of the best bits). Page 17: “Have the right to say no!” (three people). Page 17: “If I need hospital treatment I should be able to be supported by my own staff…” (four people). Page 17: “Need continuity of skilled staff who know people really well…” (one person). Page 18: “Make sure people have support with advocacy…” (one person). Page 18: “Make sure employers have trained staff who treat people with respect” (three people). Page 18: “Making sure that the support people get is monitored…” (one person). Page 18: “Making sure that support plans for health and social care are clear…” (one person). Page 18: “Making sure people have support around them from people they trust” (one person). Page 18: “Making sure that people are not isolated” (three people). People said it was important that people can keep their friends when they go to stay in hospital. Page 18: Making sure that health staff talk mainly to the person with a learning disability” (two people). Page 20: six people said it was good that Wellness and Recovery Action Plans were in the promises. Page 20 “That people with learning disabilities are supported to write health passports and health action plans (nine people). Page 20 “Staff in doctor’s surgeries and general hospitals get training in how to make reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability and how to communicate with people with learning disabilities” (five people). Page 21: “People with learning disabilities are able to access annual health checks…” (two people). Page 21: Hospital Liaison Nurses will help you when you go into hospital or visit out-patients…” (eight people). People thought it was good that people would get specialist learning disability support in hospital. Page 21: “Staff in doctor’s surgeries… provide annual health checks for carers over the age of 45” (one person). Page 21: “Quality and inspection visits are made…” (six people). One person said they liked the way the promises would make care in general hospitals more easily accessible. Page 22: three people said they liked all of the promised from Adult Services to keep people healthy.
In the ‘My Day’ and ‘Relationships and family’ chapters, people say that having transport available when people need it would make things better, but the only promise is “to help people think about support with transport”- there is no promise to make sure transport is available to people. One person said there needs to be a cross county agreement to allow two companions on a bus pass as support workers sometimes have difficulty accessing public transport. Four people said everyone should be told about the yellow card to get a bus pass. One person said major transport companies, such as airports and train operators, could promise to have clearer information available or a supporting staff member. Four people said there needs to be a promise that bus drivers will be friendlier and better trained. Six people said there should be a promise to make bus timetables that are easier to understand and have bigger writing. Three people and a group said the Plan needs to make sure transport is on time. Two people wanted more buses in the evening in Chandler’s Ford. They said there are no evening buses on four nights per week. Four people said they wanted a promise about last bus times. Four people said they wanted a promise about Sunday bus times. Three people asked if day services and school buses could be used more. Four people said there should be a promise to make transport to college more affordable. They said taxis can be expensive. Some people said support staff are needed who can drive. More information about this has been put under Chapter 1. One person said carers need help on trains. A group said there needs to be a promise to make sure opportunities offered to people are accessible by public transport.