Welfare Reform on the Web (September 2001): Mental Health Services - UK

KEY CONSIDERATIONS

S Wellard

Community Care, no.1377, 2001, p.24-25.

Looks at existing accommodation provision for people with learning difficulties and considers how services may develop in the light of the Valuing People white paper. Supported living schemes are being widely used as an alternative to residential care.

PUTTING LEARNING DISABILITY ON THE AGENDA

A Holman

Community Living, vol.14, Apr./May 2001, p.22-23.

Describes the work of Eve Rank, the only Disability Rights Commissioner with learning difficulties.

READING MENTAL HEALTH INQUIRIES: MESSAGES FOR SOCIAL WORK

N Stanley and J Manthorpe

Journal of Social Work, vol.1, 2001, p.77-99.

Article examines the findings of a series of mental health inquiry reports published in the UK during the 1990s, and identifies implications for social workers operating in the field of mental health. These inquiry reports have been influential in determining the shape of both services and new legislation. They also delivered messages concerning practice both in terms of interprofessional communication and co-ordination and regarding direct work with service users.

THE REAL CHALLENGES IN VALUING PEOPLE

R Greig

Managing Community Care, vol.9, June 2001, p.3-6.

The Learning Disabilities White Paper presents service providers with three challenges:

• to empower and work in partnership with people with learning difficulties;
• to ensure that existing and future government initiatives are inclusive of people with learning difficulties;
• to implement systems of performance management that will ensure that empowerment, partnership and mainstreaming activity become embedded in organisational life.

THE SOCIAL MODEL OF DISABILITY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR PRACTICE IN SERVICES FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES?

J Coles

Disability and Society, vol.16, 2001, p.501-510.

Article discusses the influence of the social model of disability on services for people with profound and complex learning difficulties, and looks at how practice which draws on a social model differs from that which is influenced by an individual or medical model. Draws on the findings of a small scale interpretative research study to illuminate these questions. Concludes that the social model can and does positively contribute to some practice and that it should be taught to all providers of services for this group.

STANDARD FOUR

A Hungerford

Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Care, vol.4, 2001, p.330-331.

Article outlines Standard Four of the National Service Framework for Mental Health: effective services for people with severe mental illness.

TIME TO ACT

C Wright

Community Practitioner, vol.74, 2001, p.217-221.

Discusses the Millan review of the Mental Health Act (Scotland). Article focuses on proposals for reform of the role of the community psychiatric nurse, the need for improved funding for community mental health services, and the requirement for an operational protocol to improve local needs assessments.

VALUING PEOPLE

A Holman, D Towell and S Aspis

Community Living, vol.14, Apr./May 2001, Supplement, 4p.

Summarises and presents a critique of the proposals contained in the White Paper on Learning Disabilities, Valuing People. Argues that the White Paper fails to address the issue of support for self-determination, which would be the best way of reducing poverty and social exclusion among people with learning difficulties.