Making everyone part of community

Nov 28 2008 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

SERVICES for people with learning disabilities are set to be revolutionised across the Big County.

Accommodation, homes, jobs and relationships were identified as the main areas in line for a complete overhaul as part of Perth and Kinross Council’s Learning Disability Service review.

Among the raft of measures, the Adult Resource Centre on Perth’s Gleneagles Road – known as the Gleneagles ARC – is to become a specialised centre for individuals with the most complex needs.

Gleneagles ARC currently has space for 50 adults between the ages of 16 and 65 who have various learning disabilities, with a number of places being reserved for those with “profound and multiple learning disabilities”.

But the centre will be gradually re-designed to focus on catering for those in the ten reserved places.

Other current users of the centre will be supported to go out into the community and take part in activities that will allow them to gain work and voluntary opportunities – under the council’s new Community Inclusion Services umbrella.

Four individuals have already been given jobs within Perth and Kinross Council as part of the scheme.

The overhaul may also change the way services are delivered at the three other ARCs in the Big County – at Shuna Court and Isla Road in Perth, and on Jessie Street in Blairgowrie.

Those leading the redesign said it was too early to predict how the work will pan out, but described the council’s approach as “flexible” at this stage.

There is also scope for improved social and leisure activities.

Peter Barrett, convener of the council’s housing and health committee, said that the plans signal the start of a “journey of change” that could, ultimately, change attitudes towards disability.

“We talking about moving away from building-based services as the needs of the service users are changing,” he told the PA.

“It can be difficult for people to go from using one big building, such as the Gleneagles ARC, to using all these services in the community.

“But it will be down to us to develop a trust between the council and the community and make sure what is delivered is what people want.

“This relationship is paramount,” he said.

The alterations stem from the council’s Best Value Review, a consultation which last year asked 650 people who use Learning Disability Services within the Big County for their views.

This was backed by a further report carried out by the independently-backed Scottish Consortium for Learning Disabilities.

The re-design will be a gradual process that is expected to be near completion by 2010.

Jim Dean, head of the council’s community care team, said the changes were about getting the people who use the services “involved in the early stages” of their care package.

He added that the redesign of Gleneagles ARC is key.

“The aspirations of people with learning disabilities, and indeed their families, are changing.

“So is the way in which they are accessing the services on offer.

“Our Best Value Review identified accommodation, homes, jobs and relationships as the key areas that people are concerned with.

“This may mean that some of our ARC buildings are no longer required in their current format as we change the way our services are delivered.

“But it will not be a case of overnight change.

“We have said 2010, but that is very much the minimum.

“I think this process is one of the best examples of listening to the needs of existing carers and service users.

“People have the right to live in the community as full and active members of that community. These changes will help develop that,” he said.