Today, during Learning Disability Week, the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) publishes a paper highlighting a timeline of broken promises relating to the reduction in the number of autistic people and people with learning disabilities being held in NHS-funded Assessment & Treatment Units (ATUs).
VODG, the membership body representing over 100 organisations within the voluntary sector who work alongside disabled people, is working with others in the sector to use the upcoming election to shine a light on the need to urgently reframe commissioning and invest differently.
Despite the unacceptable truth that the number of people in these settings remains too high – with the number of autistic people being admitted to ATUs actually increasing in recent years - party manifestos published last week remain almost silent on the topic, with only the Liberal Democrats providing a direct commitment to ‘ending inappropriate and costly inpatient placements for people with learning disabilities and autism.’
Rhidian Hughes, VODG Chief Executive, says: ‘There are more than 2,000 autistic people and people with learning disabilities currently detained in NHS-funded accommodation, against their wishes and against the wishes of their families. Often for years, and with no clear release date. It is the next Government’s responsibility to ensure the right levers and provision is in place to end the inappropriate use of inpatient settings.
‘VODG has been engaged in demonstrating the practical solutions that third sector providers can offer for over a decade, but it is falling on deaf ears. This combined body of member expertise underlines what we know, which is that most people currently detained in ATUs could be successfully supported in community services. Often, this support will turn out to be cheaper over time than an ATU placement. The knowledge and expertise to achieve this exists.’
Today’s paper lays out three key areas:
Challenge registration and ratings
ATUs not only fail to deliver effective services for individuals, often they fail on their own terms and do not deliver on their core registered purpose. Services that are meant to be for assessment, treatment and then discharge, end up detaining people for years on end. VODG asserts that such services should not be rated ‘Good’ by CQC. Yet many still are.
Re-think procurement - The money is in the wrong place. Good commissioning should invest to save over the longer term – resourcing prevention by partnering with community providers and housing suppliers. It should draw on the insight of people with lived experience and their families, who articulate consistently what they need – well-managed transitions between services, investment in community-based services close to people’s families and friends, skilled staff.
Co-ordinate collective action
There is a large and strong coalition of user-led, special interest and third sector provider and membership bodies who want to see the end of inappropriate detention of autistic people and people with a learning disability – VODG, VoiceAbility, The Challenging Behaviour Foundation. Mencap and The British Association of Social Workers included. Further co-ordinated collective action is needed to bring pressure to bear on the Government.
Hughes, adds: ‘2024 marks another chapter in a national scandal that should become a national priority. We need a government willing to act, not just agree that something needs to be done. We have offered practical, affordable solutions that expert third sector organisations can deliver, yet year-after-year thousands of vulnerable people in the UK remain unnecessarily locked away. The current system is not fit for purpose and the impact of this is unconscionable.’
-ENDS-
Read our updated Position Paper here.