Cascade Care is speaking out about benefits of caring for people with learning disabilities in the community
A recent report by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found that the care hospitals provide for people with learning disabilities or autism is ‘undignified’ and ‘inhumane’ at times
After describing the findings of the CQC report as ‘deeply concerning’, Care Minister Helen Whately has announced plans for investment in community services, whilst the NHS has said it is reducing the number of people in specialist hospitals
A CQC report has found that too many hospitals are providing ‘poor care’ to patients living with learning disabilities and autism.
The report, which was prompted by a 2018 BBC News investigation, describes some of the care in hospitals as ‘undignified’ and ‘inhumane’, with some patients being kept in seclusion for up to 13 years.
Cascade – which cares for over 30 people with learning disabilities including autism in four residential homes across the UK – says that whilst secure mental health services have an important place in the care of those in crisis, they should only be used for those who have no other options left to keep themselves safe from harm.
“Rather than being used as permanent homes for those with learning disabilities, secure mental health facilities should be used as a tool to reassess the needs of those who are no longer able to live safely within their community, to establish stability and to help them to transition safely back into the community,” says Graham Goforth, CEO at Cascade.
In line with the NHS’ ‘Transforming Care Agenda’ – which focuses on improving health and care services so that more people can live out of secure mental health services with the right support – Cascade believes that providing a person-centred, multi-faceted and sustainable service to people in the community is often the best approach.
Designed to prevent the admission of people into secure mental health services, the agenda aims to give people with complex needs the opportunity to remain mobile and make a positive contribution to their own lives and within their community.
This approach has been life changing for Cascade resident Max*, who has lived in the community for five years after previously living in a secure mental health facility. Max’s mental wellbeing drops drastically at certain periods of the year due to a family bereavement. However, staff have done extensive work with him to give him the extra support needed to remain in the community, even during his very hard times.
With extra support from the outside community, along with the staff from Cascade, Max is now surrounded by people who know when he is having a good or bad day and can give him extra support when needed.
“Our objective is to ensure the changing needs of people are under constant review and adapted accordingly when needed, which we do by observing their day-to-day lives and adapting routines when necessary,” says Graham.
“As such, those with complex needs have a network of professionals ensuring that they can be supported successfully while living in their own community.
“This approach ensures dignity, ownership, self-worth, and as far as practically possible, independence.”
Please visit Cascade Care to find out more.
*Cascade resident’s name changed for safeguarding reasons. Photographs taken before Government guidelines regarding COVID-19.
