The Learning Disabilities Good Practice Project was set up in the wake of Winterbourne View to highlight services that improve the health and lives of people with learning disabilities. The report, published at the end of November, includes examples of good community-based supports and is well worth reading, not least because the work behind it was carried out by people with learning disabilities and family carers.
You can download a copy of the report here.
My eye was drawn to the example of the 360˚ Quality Checking initiative in Gloucestershire, in particular how quality checking has identified the importance of social networks in the lives of people with learning disabilities in the county and the impact of social isolation. In response, people’s circles of support are now invited to be involved in quality surveys.
This set me wondering how we should go about checking the quality of community connecting. This is not just about the questions we should ask, but also how we go about gathering information and, most importantly, what we do with that information once we have it. I’ll be posting a wider review of quality checking and community connecting in the New Year and you can help by using the form below to share what happens in your area or any examples that you are aware of.
Thanks and I hope you enjoy the festive season.
thecommunityconnector 