REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER

SOCIAL CARE

PART II

VALUING PEOPLE - LEARNING DISABILITIES STRATEGY

1. In 2001 local authorities were required to lead on the production of joint investment plans for services to adults with learning disabilities. The joint investment plan for Hampshire was based on the work of the strategic learning disability groups that cover the districts served by the three health authorities and had long and successful histories of partnership working across health and social services - including collaboration between Hampshire's Social Services and the Social Services Departments of the Cities of Portsmouth and Southampton.

2. In March, 2001, the Government launched the White Paper - "Valuing People" - a strategy for learning disability services for the 21^st century, which required each local authority to set up a learning disability partnership board to deliver the objectives set out in the new strategy. An update to the joint investment plan, responding to the new strategy was one of the first targets for the new partnership boards to deliver.

3. To establish the Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership Board it was necessary to wind up the three strategic groups and with the agreement of the members of all three groups, this was done during Summer 2001. The Chief Executive launched the Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership Board on 29 October 2001. The membership includes people with learning disabilities, family carers and representatives from MENCAP, advocacy organisations, Housing Departments, NHS Learning Disability Trusts, Primary Care Trusts, Health Authorities and Social Services.

4. The Partnership Board meets quarterly and is supported in the implementation of valuing people by local implementation groups, chaired by learning disability operational service managers from social services. These groups cover four localities - South East Hampshire, South West Hampshire, North Hampshire and Winchester and Andover and our key in ensuring that information posed between the partnership board and people across Hampshire.

5. The Partnership Board has accepted and supported the priorities set out in the joint investment plan 2001/04 as produced by the three strategic groups to ensure that ongoing work continues. As relationships develop with the locality implementation groups, further priorities are being developed to deliver on the objectives of valuing people in a way that is responsive to each locality.

6. The key priority areas for Hampshire as set out in the joint investment plan 2001/04 are as follows:-

Reprovision of locally based hospital units.
Modernising day services.
Developing person centred planning.
Developing a range of accommodation and support options.
Promoting independence through direct payments.
Supporting advocacy.
Meeting healthcare needs.
Supporting young people in the transition to adulthood.
Developing a range of respite opportunities.
Improving communication in consultation with people with learning disabilities and their carers.
Developing partnerships with Primary Care Trusts and exploring the use of health flexibilities, including integrated teams across health and social care.

7. The Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership Board has made good progress in progressing the priorities set out in the joint investment plan 2001/04.

8. To support the implementation of Valuing People, a new learning disability fund of £50m per annum has been made available for England from 2002. This has been confirmed as £18m revenue and £20m capital for 2002. The Department of Health requires the revenue allocation which is being shared on a per capita basis by a Primary Care Trust, to be focused on the following areas:-

Reprovision for long stay hospital.
Modernising day services.
Developing person centre planning.
Development supported living for people living with older family carers.
Supporting advocacy.
Enhancing leadership.

9. The capital was allocated through a bidding process and focused on the following areas:-

Developing of integrated health and social care services facilities for children and young people with severe disabilities and complex needs.

Development of supported living approaches for people with learning disabilities living with older carers.

10. Bids for capital were made to support new respite services for children with learning disabilities - £50,000 was awarded for the scheme at Rose Road, Southampton and £150,000 was awarded for the replacement of Verdi Close and Erdsley House, Basingstoke.

11. The revenue allocation for Hampshire is £405,000 and the executive member has agreed that the transfer of this amount from the Primary Care Trust under Section 28(a) of the National Health Service Act 1977 be approved prior to agreeing the protocol for the pooled budget.

Felicity Hindson, MBE

Executive Member for Social Care

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