This week Learning Disability England is holding a meeting for our
members about social care funding. Or lack of funding!
There are lots of problems in social care.
We know that there has not been enough money given to social care. This
means lots of people aren’t getting support they need. Reduced budget in social
care also puts extra pressure on the NHS.
We have a bigger population and an ageing one as well.
We have People with mild learning disabilities and Moderate learning
disabilities losing out.
We have people who have multiple disabilities losing out.
We have ageing families who are worried about the future for their sons
and daughters.
There is a lot that needs to be done.
There needs to be long term funding.
Services need to be brought up to the 21st Century and we need money to make that happen.
Codes & Practices must be the same wherever you live. These should be
produced by people with learning disabilities along with their families.
People should be able to get care in the community. So instead of putting
money into ATUs, this money should be put towards Learning Disability nurses
who work in the community.
To make social care better we all need to work together and campaign for
what is right. This means Housing, Education, Health, Charities, Social Services,
Volunteering Organisations, Disabled Peoples Organisation, Self-Advocacy groups
and Family organisations all need to work in partnership.
Raising local council tax to pay for social care is a stop gap solution.
What we need more of is a permanent solution from the government with a cross
party approach. It’s everyone’s problem so everyone needs to work together to
find a solution.
The short term quick fixes are not enough, the government needs to think
of long term effects on society.
Housing and funding for people to live is needed to sustain everything. A
home forms the base for someone to live their lives from; helping with health,
work, education and leisure activities.
Localized funding supported by the government should make sure that all
services around the country are of an equally high standard whether it be city,
town or rural area.
Social care standards are particularly important for people such as
elderly people or people with a learning disability.
User led groups and family groups needs to have a big say in making social care fit for the 21st Century.
Policies on Social Care need to be developed by User led groups and families.
Social care should be more run by user led groups, especially self-advocacy
groups but also family led groups.
People with learning disabilities in 2017 are not feeling as if their
aspirations are being met.
Social care should be supported to keep people healthier for longer and we
all need to work harder in joining up thinking and working around the UK.
We should start asking ourselves: What would social care fit for the 21st
Century actually look like?
Then we need to take serious steps to actually get us there.
Progress starts now.
By Gary Bourlet.
