Learning disabilities 'transformation' call
The article below was written for BBC Scotland by Lucy Adams, BBC Scotland Correspondent and was published today, 22nd November 2018.
The article explains the work our Head of Complex Development, Dr Anne MacDonald, has been doing with the Scottish Government in relation to out of area placements for people with Learning Disabilities.
You will read about the transformation Louis has made since relocating nearer his family. We are delighted that Louis is now being supported by The Richmond Fellowship Scotland.
BBC Scotland Article
Too many adults and children with learning disabilities and complex needs are being forced to live hundreds of miles from family, a new report says.
The Scottish government report, seen by the BBC, said a "transformational" change was needed to address concerns.
The report's author, Dr Anne MacDonald, said people with learning disabilities should have the right to the same range of housing options as everyone else.
Ministers said they would look at Dr MacDonald's recommendations.
For decades, government policy has been that people with learning disabilities should be able to live in their own homes, as independently as possible.
The Scottish government says they should be supported to lead full, healthy and independent lives in their communities.
Dr MacDonald, whose report will be published on Thursday, told BBC Scotland there were a "sizeable" number of people who were either placed out of their local area or stuck in hospital.
She said she had identified 109 people who should be returned to their home area "as a priority".
Dr MacDonald said: "This is a group who can be quite challenging to support. It is people with learning difficulties, complex needs and challenging behaviours.
"It can be difficult to provide support for this group and therefore it needs to be well planned."
She said the report found that many people were moved out of their home area or into hospital during a period of crisis.
"It is because something has become very difficult and it is meant to be a short-term solution," she said.
However, she said better planning and support could ensure the crisis either did not arise or could be better managed.
Dr Macdonald said challenging behaviour was not innate and was an "expression of their unmet need".
She said the key to avoiding crisis was suitable accommodation, good staff, better planning and positive behavioural support.
Mental Health Minister Clare Haughey said: "We are committed to considering how best to take forward work based on Dr Macdonald's findings, including discussing this with Health and Social Care Partnerships in relation to the commissioning of local services, developing community services, transition planning and specialist skills."
Report findings
- 705 people with learning difficulties were in placements outside their local area on 31 January 2017 (one large health and social care partnership did not take part so the actual figure will be higher)
- 45% had been out-of-area for more than 10 years
- 23% had been out-of-area for between five and 10 years
- 79 were placed outside Scotland (in England and Wales)
- 453 were identified as out-of-area "not through choice"
- 109 were considered a priority for return to their local area
- 77% were placed out-of-area due to lack of specialist services locally
- Another 11% due to local specialist services having no capacity
For Louis Sainsbury and his mum Kate doing simple tasks like cooking together in his own flat is a novelty.
Six weeks ago when BBC Scotland first covered his story he was living in a care unit in Hartlepool. Now he's living in a flat of his own.
Louis contracted meningitis when he was a few days old and his brain was damaged.
As a result he has learning disabilities and his communication is impaired.
He went to a residential school and went home at weekends but at the end of school he struggled and ended up in a hospital inpatient unit.
More recently he had to take a place in a care home four hours drive from his mother's home in Perthshire.
Kate Sainsbury said it was wonderful to have him back close to her.
"It is the end of a long journey," she said.
"We have been through really dark places full of despair because he was 240 miles away and now he is 24 miles away.
"And it is the start of a new opportunity for Louis to live in this lovely flat."
Kate added: "If Louis had a physical condition - if he had cancer - and you said to me 'does it seem right that Louis has the right treatment?' we would be saying, 'of course, it is right that he has the right treatment for cancer or a physical ailment'
"Whereas with social care is so often not recognised that it is important to have expert, consistent care in the life of a young man like Louis."