Agenda item

Purpose:  To check on progress and implementation of recommendations of the Ombudman’s “Six Lives” report to improve the provision of public services to those with Learning Disabilities.

The Panel considered a report (Agenda Item 8) which reviewed the Council’s Learning Disability Services following the publication of the “Six Lives” report. 

Mrs Alison Love (Service Manager for Long Term Care) described how the “Six Lives” national review investigated the deaths of six people with learning disabilities, between 2003 and 2005, which were under NHS or local authority care.  Significant failures were identified particularly organisations lacking understanding of the law in relation to disability discrimination and human rights.  In addition poor appreciation of clients’ needs and an inability to communicate adequately with those with learning disabilities were identified. Organisations had also been criticised for the way complaints were handled and some degree of institutional failure had been identified in all six deaths.  

Mrs Love described the Council’s action plan in response to the “Six Lives” report and stated that most actions had been completed.  She described the work done particularly through the Care Quality Board which involved both internal and external providers of care services which had found no local concerns regarding care standards. 

Mrs Love, described how contracts were in place to monitor the quality of care as well as a strong integrated Health and Social Care Team that was very effective at addressing the needs of those with learning disabilities.

She also described the role of the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board (LDPB) in contributing towards the Berkshire West Health Self-Assessment in March 2010 and in the production of the Annual Plan.

Work that remained to be done was to contact all providers of all learning disability services to ensure they were fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act. 

The Chairman asked about the service providers where complaints had been received and how thoroughly investigated these had been. Mrs Love described the routine work of the Care Quality Officers in ensuring the safeguarding standards were met.  She also described the revised Joint Complaints Protocol which had recently been circulated to all health partners as a improved way of investigating complaints. 

The Chairman enquired whether adequate resources were in place to investigate specific cases. Mrs Love described the work of the two Care Quality Monitoring Officers who’s role it was to review local providers. In addition visits had been made by the Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care to thirty learning disability service centres to review individual care plans and ensure high standards of care were being upheld.

Councillor Mason enquired about the training of staff caring for those with learning disabilities. Mrs Love described how staff did have access to the necessary training but there was also a need to work with General Practitioners on this issue.

Councillor Boeck enquired about the action points that had not yet been completed. Mrs Love described how there was a continual process of improvement with standards being raised all the time. The assurance process needed to be revised to reflect this.  She also described some improvements such as the Drop-In Sessions which were specific to West Berkshire which helped ensure and identify local needs.

RESOLVED that the Council’s response to the recommendations of the “Six Lives” review was noted.