East Ayrshire learning disability services praised following joint inspection

A joint inspection of services for adults with learning disabilities in East Ayrshire has identified clear strengths in the support provided, alongside several areas where improvements are needed.

The inspection of East Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership found people generally experienced good, person-centred care and were treated with compassion, dignity and respect.

Inspectors found a wide range of care and support was available according to people’s individual needs and wishes. Staff across different organisations worked well together, including finding creative solutions to complex care and housing needs.

Joint working was highlighted as a particular strength, with well-developed relationships between professionals supported by co-location of services. Senior managers and leaders were also found to work effectively in an integrated way.

The Community Learning Disability Team was praised for its person-led and outcome-focused approach, while inspectors found the partnership had effective systems and processes supporting its work with people. This included its implementation of self-directed support and person-centred approaches under Adults with Incapacity legislation.

However, the inspection also identified areas requiring further action.

The partnership has been recommended to relaunch its programme of annual health checks for adults with learning disabilities, which inspectors said could support earlier intervention and prevention while helping address health inequalities.

Inspectors also called for faster progress on future care and emergency plans, including adult carer support plans, to help ensure continuity of care.

The partnership was encouraged to work with frontline staff to ensure they feel adequately supported when assessing and reviewing packages of care at resource allocation meetings, particularly when communicating difficult decisions to people waiting for funding.

Inspectors also recommended better collection and analysis of outcome-based data to support strategic planning and decision-making for people with learning disabilities.

Jackie Irvine, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, said the partnership had demonstrated key strengths despite pressures including the financial climate, demographic changes and increasingly complex support needs.

She said inspectors were assured the partnership was well placed to deliver its vision for learning disability services and had the foundations to make further improvements.

Robbie Pearson, chief executive of Healthcare Improvement Scotland, said the inspection had found strong evidence of joined-up working across health and social care and good person-centred support.

He said restarting annual health checks and progressing future care planning could further strengthen early intervention and prevention, improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for adults with learning disabilities.

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