The Government is committed to improving the life chances of people with a learning disability. The Department of Health worked with several other Government departments on the White Paper, Valuing people, which was published in 2001 and designed to improve support for people with learning disabilities and their families.
This section includes a selection of recent news items relating to learning disability.
In August 2008, a letter was sent to all PCTs and Local Authorities seeking the transfer of commissioning responsibility from PCTs to Local Authorities with respect to non- health care related expenditure for people with Learning Difficulties. This letter gives an update and specifically advises PCTs and Local Councils as to what the DH are looking for from the December 1st return.
This letter and annex set out the existing policy and legal framework for the transfer of learning disability social care funding and commissioning from the NHS to local authorities with effect from 1 April 2009. The annex provides guidance on what is covered, what PCTs and LAs need to do and the timescale for the transfer. The proposed transfer was set out in Valuing People Now.
This Local Authority Circular and Grant Determination sets out the revenue grant available for the three years from 2008/9 to 2010/11 to those local authorities who completed a campus census return on 10 April 2008.
The Joint Committee on Human Rights (the Committee) published its report 'A life like any other? human rights of adults with learning disabilities' on 6 March 2008. This memorandum sets out the Government response to the conclusions and recommendations in that report.
The Valuing People Now consultation seeks people's views on the priorities for the learning disability agenda over the next three years. The consultation runs until 28 March 2008
Published on 20 March 2001, Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century, set out an ambitious and challenging programme of action for improving services.
The learning disability taskforce was established to help address the issues faced by people with a learning disability.
The Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF) supports the implementation of the valuing people whitepaper.
Key resources and publications related to policies and guidance for learning disabilities.
A comprehensive and enhanced service specification for PCT and practice based commissioners in 2007 to 2008.