UK
UK Health Minister announces new Valuing People report
By DOH, UK
Mar 23, 2005, 18:36

Heath Minister Stephen Ladyman today announced the publication of the National Director�s review of Valuing People together with �700,000 to benefit people with learning disabilities.

During a visit to the Centre 404 project in Islington, the Minister also revealed the 10 successful bids for �2.3m of the Extra Care Housing Fund, which has been earmarked for schemes supporting adults with a learning disability. The schemes promote independent living and increase choice by providing people with their own homes together with care and support that meets their individual needs.

Each of the winning bids provide clear evidence of innovation, partnership working, value for money, deliverability and good practice that would be transferable to other Local Authority partnerships.

The announcements come in the wake of the yesterday�s Green Paper on Adult Services and provide a welcome focus on people with learning disabilities.

Stephen Ladyman said

�The Valuing People approach, with its focus on putting the individual at the centre of everything has been very influential on our thinking in developing the Green Paper.

�We will be able to plan future work to support people with learning disabilities in the context of our new vision for adult services and ensure that lessons learned from Valuing People will benefit others, such as older people, disabled people and people with mental health problems.�

Rob Greig, the National Director for Learning Disabilities said

"The lives of many people with learning disabilities are improving. People with learning disabilities and their families tell us that they are getting new chances to be a part of their local community and to live the lives that they want.

�Through the National Forum of People with Learning Disabilities and locally in many self-advocacy organisations, it is learning disabled people themselves and their families that have championed Valuing People.

�However, we cannot overcome centuries of discrimination against disabled people in four short years. Despite this good progress, more action is needed to encourage the 'mainstream' of society and services to be fully inclusive of learning disabled people.�

The �700,000 cash boost for people with learning disabilities will be used t further work on four areas of concern, including increasing employment opportunities and preventing people being sent to live away from home

Stephen Ladyman praised the Centre 404 project �Moving into the Mainstream� which offers information, advice and practical support to help people with learning difficulties build links with the local community through attending mainstream classes and activities.

He said, �We must achieve the cultural shift that will ensure that the needs of people with learning disabilities are automatically considered alongside those of all their fellow citizens in any area of service design or delivery.�

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