Supporting people out of hospital with learning disabilities has been a difficult area of policy and practice throughout the history of the NHS and social care. Although the UK began closing ‘asylums’ for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in the 1960s, there has been a growth in the number of people admitted to assessment and treatment units. Many face significant challenges when trying to leave these settings, and often remain in hospital far longer than needed.
In 2023/24, IMPACT ran a Network focused on people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people leaving long-stay hospitals. One of the local networks was coordinated by Alastair Minty and hosted by InControl Scotland, a small, rights-based Scottish charity that focuses on improving the social care system by making self-directed support more accessible.
A Toolkit for Practical Change & Learning from the Conference
Following the Network, Alastair and colleagues at InControl and New Routes Home — a partnership of individuals and organisations across Scotland — began developing a Toolkit. It aims to help staff and families reduce long-term admissions and delayed discharges through person-centred care and support approaches.
The No Time to Waste Toolkit was discussed at the Coming Home Good Practice Conference in Glasgow on 24 April. Over 40 people took part in the session. They explored how the Toolkit could offer practical steps to stop ineffective practices, and replace them with better alternatives. These include building trust, increasing confidence in community-based responses, and rebalancing power and decision-making for people stuck in hospital and their families.
What the Toolkit Will Offer
The Toolkit will be a resource for both practitioners and supported people/their families, enabling self-reflection and application in both clinical and community settings. A human learning systems model will be used to understand people’s current experiences and explore ideas for change. Over the coming months, the team will refine the initial driver model that underpins the Toolkit’s design through coproduction with practitioners, supported people, and families. These sessions will be held both online and in person.
If you’re working in a clinical or community setting and want to get involved, please contact Alastair Minty at [email protected]
This blog was written by Alastair Minty and edited by Nathan Stephens.