General issues -->mstheme-->

-->mstheme-->a) Labels -->mstheme-->

1) People don't like the old labels. They prefer learning difficulties if anything.

-->mstheme-->b) Information -->mstheme-->

1) People need better information about everything. Who does what. What people are entitled to? Who will do this?

2) Information needs to be accessible.

3) Self-advocacy groups can help publish this information. Groups can be contracted to do this.

4) This includes the strategy information; people with learning difficulties will need to be told about the strategy properly.

-->mstheme-->c) Charges -->mstheme-->

1) Charges are unfair and needs sorting out. Some people are charged lots when others are not charged at all.

2) People cannot be left below Income Support levels this is not a reasonable charge. Some social services are ignoring the guidance.

-->mstheme-->d) Money -->mstheme-->

1) People with learning difficulties need access to their own money. If other people are looking after it for them there needs to be clear rules as to how it is spent and who it is for.

-->mstheme-->e) Access -->mstheme-->

1) Access to all services and support for minority ethnic communities must be made equal.

-->mstheme-->f) Complaints -->mstheme-->

1) Complaints by people with learning difficulties must be taken seriously by anyone involved including all health and social services workers.

2) Complaints advocates should be available and listened to.

3) Information about complaints must be made available and accessible.

4) We saw that even having strong advocates does not mean valid complaints will be listened to. The complaints we heard about were not properly listened to until the issues were raised with the department and they asked for more information.

The social services department now have to review their procedures, but we do not know if the new ones will be any more successful. This information should go into the review of complaints.

-->mstheme-->g) Consent -->mstheme-->

1) Consent to any action needs to always be obtained if at all possible after it has been explained in every possible way.

2) National rules need to be drawn up if someone can't give their consent. The suggestions in Who Decides are not necessarily the best, they may take away decision making from some people and not show how people with learning difficulties can consent to contracts etc that are in their best interests e.g. to their own tenancies.

3) Who Decides does not provide enough safeguards for instance as to how money is spent or who has control. The proposals need to be looked at again.

-->mstheme-->h) Rights -->mstheme-->

-->mstheme--> 1) The right to basics must be ensured. This includes: -->mstheme--> -->msthemelist--> -->msthemelist--> ..> -->msthemelist--> -->msthemelist--> -->msthemelist-->..> -->mstheme-->Being able to go to self-advocacy groups. -->mstheme--> -->msthemelist--> -->mstheme-->Being able to live in your own home if wished. -->mstheme--> -->msthemelist--> -->mstheme-->Being able to have support to go out when you wish, this includes everything from going to the disco to a funeral. -->mstheme--> -->msthemelist--> -->mstheme--> -->mstheme-->

-->mstheme--> -->mstheme-->

-->mstheme--> -->mstheme--> -->msthemelist--> -->msthemelist--> ..> -->msthemelist-->..> -->mstheme-->Not to be bullied. Crimes are often committed against people with learning difficulties. These need to be recognised as such and not minimised as something else. -->mstheme--> -->msthemelist--> -->mstheme--> -->mstheme-->

-->mstheme--> -->mstheme-->

-->mstheme-->Crimes such as abuse need to get into court, people need proper legal protection, which is not always there at the moment. They also need to be properly supported in court, such as in the pilot project we heard about. -->mstheme--> -->msthemelist-->