Although a formal committee of Brighton & Hove City Council, the Health & Wellbeing Board has a remit which includes matters relating to the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), the Local Safeguarding Board for Children and Adults and Healthwatch.

 

 

Title: 

 

 

Adult Learning Disability Strategy 2021-2026

Date of Meeting:

 

27th July 2021

Report of:

 

Georgina Clarke-Green, Assistant Director for Health, SEN & Disability

Email:

 

Georgina.ClarkeGreen@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Wards Affected:

 

All Wards

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

 

 

Executive Summary

 

The city’s current Adult Learning Disability strategy expired at the end of 2019. Therefore, it is a time to produce a new, ambitious Adult Learning Disability Strategy for the city.

 

The purpose of the strategy is to deliver on a city-wide agreed vision for the commissioning and delivery of Adult Learning Disability services, providing a framework against which provision can be measured and improved. The strategy has been co-produced across a range of local partners and stakeholders; including Adults with Learning Disabilities and their families, Local Authority colleagues, Social Care Providers, the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust (SPFT), Speak Out, The Carers Centre, PaCC and Amaze.

 

The strategy is being presented to the board for approval because of the significant health elements embedded within the strategy that affect adults who have learning disabilities.

 

 

Glossary of Terms

DMT          Departmental Team Meeting

LD              Learning Disability

LDPB        Learning Disability Partnership Board

PaCC        Parent and Carer Council

LA             Local Authority

CCG          Clinical Commissioning Group

SPFT        Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust

NHS          National Health Service

TDC          Trust for Developing Communities

SEND       Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

 

 

1.           Decisions, recommendations, and any options

 

1.1         That the Health and Wellbeing Board approves the Adult Learning Disability Strategy 2021-2026.

 

 

2.           Relevant information

 

2.1         Key to the development of the strategy was engagement and consultation with all key stakeholders and members of the Learning Disability Partnership Board (LDPB). This included listening to the views of Adults with Learning Disabilities and their families, Social Care Providers, the Local Authority, Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust (SPFT), Speak Out, The Carers Centre, PaCC and Amaze.

 

2.2         Speak Out an independent advocacy service for adults with learning disabilities in the city chair the LDPB with adults with learning disabilities from their link group. It is a strategic partnership made up of representatives from a range of stakeholders in the city to provide an opportunity to come together on a quarterly basis to inform and drive forward changes and improvements needed to services in the city for adults with learning disabilities.  

 

2.3         Engagement and consultation to develop the new strategy was carried out through a range of events and activities:

·         A review of the success and areas of development of the previous Learning Disability strategy

·         A review of the engagement and consultations carried out by Speak Out and Amaze

·         An online consultation with providers and professionals

·         Engagements/consultation by Speak Out, PaCC and Amaze with adults with learning disabilities and their families

·         Six co-produced online engagement sessions which were open to a range of stakeholders.

·         A focused consultation by Trust for Developing Communities (TDC) with adults with Learning Disability and their families from Black, Asian, and other ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds.

 

2.4         The main strategy document was co-produced with key partners and members of the Learning Disability Partnership Board (LDPB).

 

2.5         An easy read document of the strategy has been produced for adults with learning disabilities by Speak Out. This is appendix 2.

 

2.3         The new strategy will be steered by the Adult Learning Disability Partnership Board (LDPB), whose membership includes the Assistant Director SEN Health and Disability, Heads of Service for the Specialist Community Disability Service (14-24 and 25+ pods) and the adult learning disability Commissioner. Progress against actions specific to transitions will also be monitored by the SEND Partnership Board. Membership of the LDPB is listed in the strategy document.

 

2.4         The strategy sets out the 6 key priorities and outlines the partnership between the Local Authority (LA), the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), adults with learning disabilities and their families, our key partner agencies and other services in Health and Social Care, including the voluntary and community sector.

 

2.5         The 6 priority areas are:

·       Priority 1 – Relationships, Friendships & Feeling Safe

·       Priority 2 – Health & Wellbeing

·       Priority 3 – Activities, Work & Learning

·       Priority 4 – Housing & Support

·       Priority 5 – Transitions

·       Priority 6 – Information and Advice

 

2.6         For each of the 6 priorities there will be a workstream with an identified lead individual and made up of key members. The workstreams will drive forward the key actions and will report back twice a year to the LDPB on their progress and/or any issues effecting delivery.

 

2.7         The strategy will align with other key strategies including: the SEND Strategy, the Sussex CCG’s Learning Disability and Autism Strategy and will help to inform the Councils Commissioning Strategy.

 

2.8         A final consultation on the strategy took place from 19th April until 31st May 2021. The feedback of which informed a final update of the strategy with agreement from key partners. The final document is in Appendix 1.

 

 

2.9         The strategy has been presented at both the Health and Adult Social Care Departmental Team Meeting (DMT) and Families Children and Learning DMT, and the Public Health Programme Board.

 

2.10      Two meetings were organised for councillors for members to have an opportunity to consider the Strategy in detail, ask questions of officers and provide feedback.   

 

3.      Important considerations and implications

            Legal:

 

3.1         There is no statutory requirement to have an Adult Learning Disability Strategy. However, legislation requires all Local Authorities to work in partnership to provide, or arrange services, facilities, resources, or take other steps, towards preventing, delaying or reducing the development of need for care and support. These statutory duties include people with learning disabilities.

 

3.2         The Care Act 2014 sets out a range of statutory duties for Local Authorities, including a number related to the prevention agenda. It requires all Local Authorities to, “work in partnership to provide, or arrange services, facilities, resources, or take other steps, towards preventing, delaying or reducing the development of needs for care and support”.  The Health and Social Care Act 2012 sets out the legal duties of the Department of Health, Public Health, Clinical Commissioning Groups and NHS bodies to reduce health inequalities. As such it requires local health and social care bodies to action to address health inequalities. The HWB is required to promote integrated working amongst health and social care service

 

3.3         The Equality Act 20108 sets out the equality duties for all public sector bodies to integrate the advancement of equality into day to day business

Lawyer consulted:     Nicole Mouton                        Date: 28/04/2021

 

 

            Finance:

 

3.4         Future strategies and priorities will need to be considered in conjunction with available budget and achieve good value for money. Financial monitoring will take place through the analysis of unit costs to ensure strategies compare well in financial terms based on benchmarking with other local authorities. It will be important for clear communication to exist between the council and other key partners such as Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and local Clinical Commissioning Groups. The current council net general fund social budget for adults with learning disabilities is c. £38m

 

Finance Officer consulted: Steve Williams             Date: 04/05/2021

 

Equalities:

 

3.5         The ability of residents with disabilities to access services and increase independence has been a key consideration in the development of this new strategy. Improving wellbeing and outcomes for adults with learning disabilities is a key priority for all partners and will be monitored as part of this work.

 

3.6         Many protected characteristics feature heavily in the strategy; we have worked closely with adults with learning disabilities, their families and our partners to ensure that we reflect the diversity in the city.

 

3.7         A consultation with adults with Learning Disability and their families from Black, Asian, and other ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds was carried out by TDC. The feedback from this was incorporated into the strategy and help to inform how we engage with this community going forward.

 

Sustainability:

 

3.8         An agreed Adult Learning Disability Strategy within the city allows for more informed commissioning in this area, supporting best value for public resources and delivery of services.

 

3.9         Key partners have been involved in the development of the strategy to ensure it is aligned with existing LA and CCG strategies.

 

3.10      The strategy will be reviewed in a year in conjunction with the SEND Strategy to consider if both strategies can be joined together for a lifelong strategy.

 

 

 

4             Supporting documents and information

 

            Appendix1: Adult Learning Disability Strategy 2021-2026 

           Appendix 2: Easy Read version