Our latest response to the Winterbourne View scandal looks at how such abusive environments can be prevented and good care promoted for people with learning disabilities and complex needs. It comes from Sharon Paley, development manager for behaviour support at the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD).
BILD has developed a code of practice on the use of physical intervention with people with learning disabilities and autism and accredits training in this area.....See also
- The individuals and families from Winterbourne View have faced serious trauma and been victims of crime.
- There is no place for specialist hospitals in the case of people with learning disabilities, outside of serious forensic issues.
- There is a lack of local services with the required skills and resources and commissioners lack the knowledge and skills to commission local evidence based and individualised services for people who are labelled as “challenging services”.
- The regulatory framework is failing to pick up on and reduce the risk of such service failings.
- If the voice of people with learning disabilities and their families were heard better, then the risk of such abuse would be greatly reduced.
- While it is important not to invest in ways that prolong the life of these units, there is a need to improve quality and safety in the short term.
