What Matters To Me

What Matters To Me report published.

 

The Patient and Client Council has published a report called What Matters To Me, which reflects service users and carers’ views and experiences of learning disability services in Northern Ireland. 

Pictured at the launch of the report in The Hive, Belfast are Maeve Hully from the Patient and Client Council, and John McKee and Brian Sinnamon from the Bamford Monitoring Group with guests.

With guidance from members of the Bamford Monitoring Group, the Patient and Client Council spoke to people with a learning disability and asked them to describe what services are working well and which ones are not working well. 

Service users highlighted six key areas which were specifically relevant to them.

► views on day opportunities;

► supported housing;

► respite (short break) services;

► further education;

► training and work; and

► Health andSocial Care staff in learning disability support services.

There were things that worked well and did not work well in the discussions with services users about their learning disability services. They reported how day services were important to them and choice, flexibility, and independence were key aspects to day services which worked well.  Whilst many service users reported positive experiences of staff they also reported that staff did not always understand their particular needs. Respite was also an area which service users talked about positively and identified it as something they enjoyed however a few expressed frustration with limited access to these services.

Carers highlighted five key areas as being specifically relevant to them and the person they care for:

► respite (short break) services;

► transition from child to adult services;

► Health and Social Care staff;

► joined up working; and

► information.

Carer participants were generally more negative than service users about learning disability services. Carers highlighted that respite was important to them but there is a need for improved availability and access to these services. They also reported that it was important to have good communication with HSC staff and that they should listen to carers opinions and value their expertise more. Carers also identified an information gap with regards to services which are available, reporting that they are unaware of opportunities available in their local area. Some relied on support groups as their method of hearing about services which they could avail of.

The Patient and Client Council and the Bamford Monitoring Group will continue to review the issues raised in the report and look to influence decision makers and professionals working in Health and Social Care, so that learning disability services are provided in ways that best suit the needs of the people who use them.

Last updated 8 years 4 months ago