SSRG Newsletter - June 2001: Valuing People - A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century

The long awaited White Paper was published in March 2001 together with associated documents including Family Matters - counting families in. Appendix A of the White Paper and chapter 6 of Family Matters, spell out a proposed range of objectives, sub-objectives, targets and performance indicators designed to support the new strategy.

All documents can be found at: http://www.doh.gov.uk/learningdisabilities/new.htm

SSRG is working with the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) in order to present a reasoned critique of the proposals to the Department of Health. We have agreed with ADSS to concentrate on the sections of the White Paper noted above - i.e. those dealing with objectives, targets and performance indicators. Bill Robbins DSS at South Gloucestershire is ADSS lead on learning disability and is collating a policy response from his network.

We only have until the end of May (though your comments on any aspect of the white paper are welcome beyond this deadline) and your views could help influence the future direction of performance assessment in relation to learning disability issues. For those who have not seen the material, appendix A of the White Paper and section 6.2 of Family Matters can be accessed at the link above.

Please send your views and we will use these to collate an SSRG/ADSS response to government.

Particular questions we would like to hear your views on include:

• how well do the objectives and sub-objectives mesh with those already in place through Quality Protects, the Social Services White Paper, the NHS Plan etc.
• are there any critical objectives missing
• are the proposed targets realistic and achievable
• are there more appropriate targets
• are the proposed performance indicators robust
• are there better indicators either to replace those proposed or in addition.

We would welcome your views on any of these topics.

Please send your comments to these questions to Terry Davies tdavies@worcestershire.gov.uk

and/or to David Henderson dave.henderson@shropshire-cc.gov.uk

Responses will be added to the SSRG website so that other visitors can view them, and later be collated to prepare and submit a joint SSRG/ADSS response. (http://www.ssrg.org.uk)

Terry Davies