Transforming Care (Learning Disabilities)


Background:

In May 2011 a BBC Panorama programme highlighted both physical and mental abuse taking place at Winterbourne View Hospital that was privately run by Castlebeck Ltd in South Gloucestershire.  The Department of Health carried out a full review into what happened at Winterbourne View Hospital along with a wider review of over 150 hospitals and care homes that provided services for people with learning disabilities.  The review indicated that failings were widespread within the operating organisation (Castlebeck) but importantly also evident across the wider care system.

The Department of Health published Transforming Care, a National Response to Winterbourne View Hospital and the Concordat: Programme of Action in December 2012.  The Concordat and 63 actions detailed within the review seek to address poor and inappropriate care for people with a learning disability and/or autism, who may also have mental health needs or behaviour that challenges.

In October 2015 NHS England, ADASS and the LGA published a Transforming Care national implementation plan and associated service model – Building the Right Support.  This national plan set out measures to develop community services and close inpatient facilities for people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges, including those with a mental health condition.

The plan outlines three key expectations from Commissioners; implementing enhanced community provision, reducing inpatient capacity, and rolling out care and treatment reviews in line with published policy.

Local areas are required to establish a Transforming Care Partnership (TCP) made up of key stakeholders across the local health and care community. The local area in our case is Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR). The TCP is required to produce a medium term plan to deliver the required national objectives within the local area.

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Transforming Care Plan

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Transforming Care Plan focus is on making sure there is the right support for people to be discharged from inpatient hospital care at the right time and also helping people who are at risk of being admitted.  It will do this by providing good support for carers, including through the redesign of the short breaks offer, the use of personal health budgets, and working with local NHS, care providers, housing providers and the local workforce to develop services and support to meet current and future need.