"REALISE"ing in Manchester

Yesterday I was in Manchester giving a keynote speech on the "Provider Perspective" at the national Learning Disability conference organised by Care Management Matters.

There was a lively and fairly heated debate on the relative merits and costs of residential care and supported living for adults with LD. It does seem that the sometimes entrenched views of commissioners that residential care is outdated and inappropriate for anyone is softening towards a more realistic view that there is a continued need for a spectrum of provision in which progressive and enabling support in a residential setting can remain a positive lifestyle choice for some people, and particularly those with complex needs. I suspect the debate on this key area of social policy will continue for a while yet. It is important for everyone involved in this to be fully aware that there are currently a number of test cases related to supported living going through the courts and the legal position is not yet settled. This is a matter in which we are closely involved in relation to some of our homes on the Isle of Wight.

The lead keynote speech was given by Anne Williams, National Director for Learning Disabilities at the Department of Health. In conversation with Anne she told me that she had recently been on a visit to our region to be briefed on the LD campus reprovision underway in the Bournemouth, Poole and Dorset Authorities. She had been told of our involvement there and was able to pass on to me that our reputation in the area amongst the commissioners is very high. This was very good to hear.

It was a pleasure to have the company of two colleagues at the conference who came with me and helped to man our "REALISE" stand in the exhibition area at the conference. Kay Garrett and Claire Hurford are Community Team Supervisors for Learning Disabilities in Somerset Care at Home. Our stand was impressive as was the enthusiastic and passionate way in which Kay and Claire explained our LD services to delegates. This will have done a great deal to promote our reputation amongst the national LD community.