The Government launched Valuing People Now - A Three Year Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities, which presents a vision for improving services for people with learning disabilities across health, housing, employment and community care services. It follows a comprehensive consultation involving more than 10,000 people.
Improving training, commissioning of services and strengthening local structures to meet the needs of people with learning disabilities, are fundamental elements of the Strategy. Key aims include:
Progress will be reviewed annually. A new national Learning Disability Programme Board and Regional Boards will have responsibility for ensuring the strategy works, share good practice and provide a forum for stakeholder groups to discuss progress and concerns.
Valuing People Now also contains the Government's response to the Independent Inquiry chaired by Sir Jonathan Michael. This was set up by former Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt in response to the Mencap report Death by Indifference in 2007.
In response to the Independent Inquiry, the Government will:
