Disgraceful results from 145 unannounced inspections of institutions for people with a learning disability. We should all be ashamed!

'This model of care has no place in the 21st century'

The following is extracted from a message to TAC Bulletin from the Challenging Behaviour Foundation:

As you may know the CQC has today published a report from a programme of 145 unannounced inspections and the Department of Health has published its interim report. Here we summarise these findings.

Links to the full versions of all three reports can be found on the latest news page of our website: www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk

CQC report

Today the CQC has published a report from a programme of 145 unannounced inspections. Almost half (48%) of the services inspected did not comply with the CQC standards, with moderate or major concerns. Only 24% of the services complied with the standards without any concerns, 28% complied with the standards but had minor concerns raised.

IHAL report

The Improving Health and Lives (IHaL): Learning Disabilities Observatory has analysed data collected during the CQC review and produced a report. The report states that overall only one in seven of the residents in the 145 units were being supported in services compliant with both outcomes. Only 14% of people living in assessment and treatment units were in services that were fully compliant with both outcomes.

The report highlights:

the size of many of the services - the largest was supporting 97 people. Half of the units that were inspected were supporting 9 or more individuals and half of the individuals included in the inspection were living in services with 20 or more people.
the length of time people are spending in services. The majority (64%) of assessment and treatment units were supporting at least one person who had been there for 3 years or more.
that compliance with the CQC regulations does not necessarily indicate the presence of high quality care. It gives the example of an assessment and treatment unit which had five people living there for over seven years, and a further four people who had lived there for an average of four years with no discharge plans in place.

Emerson concludes "The disjunction between compliance and broader notions of quality in this, and other, instances may call into question the extent to which the current Regulations are fit for purpose for the inspection of Assessment and Treatment Units for people with learning disabilities."

DH interim review

The Department of Health (DH) has published an interim report following the Panorama programme. The full report will be published after criminal proceedings and have been completed. The report is based on the CQC's inspection reports as well as information provided by people with learning disabilities, people with autism, family carers and various professionals and organisations.

Although unable to cover what happened at Winterbourne View, the report highlights the fact that the health and care system isn't meeting the needs of people with learning disability or autism and behaviour which challenges. The report focusses on several initial findings from the review:

There are too many people with learning disabilities and behaviour perceived as challenging in assessment and treatment units and they are staying there for too long.
This model of care has no place in the 21st century. People should have access to the support and services they need locally
In too many services there is evidence of a poor quality of care, poor care planning, a lack of meaningful activities and an over-reliance on restraining people.
The whole system has a role in improving standards of care and demonstrating zero tolerance of abuse.

The report identifies 14 actions at a national level to drive good practice at a local level with the aim of more people being supported to live at home and far fewer people being sent away to hospitals.

Links to the full versions of all three reports can be found on the latest news page of our website: www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk