Skip to content

Adults with a learning disability

Related Links

Good practice framework for people with a learning disability requiring planned secondary care

The report aims to define best practice and improve health outcomes for people with a learning disability staying in hospital.

Practice Guidance on developing a commissioning strategy for people with a learning disability.

The Welsh Assembly Government has published guidance on commissioning services for adults with learning disabilities.

The self-assessment checklist for monitoring services for people with learning disability and challenging behaviour

The checklist is a tool to establish what is in place and working well for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour in local areas.

Learning disability strategy: section 7

The attached guidance sets out the service principles and services responses that authorities should adopt for adults and older people with learning disabilities.

People with a learning disability are among the most vulnerable in society, and the Welsh Government is committed to improving their way of life.

The Welsh Government supports the approach and principles that lay behind both the original 1983 'All Wales Strategy for the Development of Services for Mentally Handicapped People' and the 1994 revised document, 'The Welsh Mental Handicap Strategy Guidance'. 

Policy and Practice for Adults with a Learning Disability

In 2007, the Welsh Government issued a new 'Statement on Policy and Practice for Adults with a Learning Disability'. This replaces previous strategy guidance and confirms a vision for the future based on the following statement of principles:

All people with a learning disability are full citizens, equal in status and value to other citizens of the same age. They have the same rights to:

  • live healthy, productive and independent lives with appropriate and responsive treatment and support to develop their maximum potential;
  • be individuals and decide everyday issues and life-defining matters for themselves joining in all decision-making which affects their lives, with appropriate and responsive advice and support where necessary;
  • live their lives within their community, maintaining the social and family ties and connections which are important to them;
  • have the support of the communities of which they are a part and access to general and specialist services that are responsive to their individual needs, circumstances and preferences.

Section 7 Service Principles and Service Responses Guidance

In August 2004, the Welsh Government issued its 'Section 7 Service Principles and Service Responses Guidance' for authorities. This sets out the service principles and responses that authorities should adopt on issues affecting the lives of adults and older people with learning disabilities. These issues are:

  • personalised approaches to individual planning;
  • information provision for users and carers;
  • support;
  • working with other departments;
  • community living;
  • employment, further education and day activities;
  • general health needs; 
  • complex health needs;
  • people who present challenging behaviour.

The Welsh Government remains committed to ensuring that people residing inappropriately in long-stay learning disability hospitals are resettled into social care settings in their communities.

Recent Developments

Over recent years the long stay learning disability hospitals in Powys, Ely in Cardiff, Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan and Llanfrechfa Grange in Torfaen have completed their resettlement programmes and have closed. The implementation of the final social care resettlement programme for the Bryn y Neuadd Hospital in Llanfairfechfan is well advanced and should be completed in 2009-10.

The Welsh Government has established an external Learning Disability Implementation Advisory Group (LDIAG) to provide Ministers with advice and guidance on the full range of issues that affect the lives of adults with a learning disability. Its membership is drawn from statutory authorities, the voluntary sector and academia and also includes people with a learning disability.

The LDIAG’s Challenging Behaviour and Mental Health sub group has produced the document ‘Self-Assessment Checklist for Monitoring Services for People with Learning Disability and Challenging Behaviour’. It is intended for use by commissioners and providers from health and social services.

Further information on the Advisory Gorup is available on the Learning Disability Implementation Advisory Group website)