Department of Social Care recognises over 10 years of improvements in its Learning Disabilities services It was in the early 1990’s that Tynwald first approved The Strategy for the Development of Community Based Services for People with Learning Disabilities, and this vision became a reality in 2000 with the closure of Ballamona Hospital. A network of community services was set up for people so that they could be part of their communities rather than facing life in an institutional setting. The Department of Social Care is now celebrating this landmark of over 10 years of progress on this strategy, highlighting the many positive improvements in the quality of life for people with learning disabilities, whilst being aware of the need for services to continue to grow and develop, subject to available resources, to meet the needs of the Island’s people with learning disabilities into the future. The Minister for Social Care Hon Martyn Quayle MHK said: “In the 12 months I have been Minister for Social Care, I have become acutely aware of the commitment and dedication shown by all levels of staff in providing services to the most vulnerable people in our society. The Isle of Man has demonstrated with this programme that it is an inclusive society which supports people to be as independent and self reliant as possible by facilitating their interdependence with their local community and supporting them wherever possible at home and in family settings”. The Director of Social Services Andrew Swithinbank said: “Since the implementation of this programme considerable progress has been made in developing a range of community based services for people with a learning disability, which has had such a positive impact on the lives of so many people, enabling them to lead rich and varied lifestyles which would have been impossible within a hospital based setting. However, services still need to move forward to ensure we will meet the ever increasing demand for our services and we will be working with people themselves and their families to find creative solutions.” Since the closure of hospital based services in 2000 progress has continued and services have had to keep pace with individual needs to such an extent that service users are now seeking support for increased independence. This demand for increased independence is testament to the hard work and commitment of the people involved in both supporting individual service users and those leading the development of services for people with a learning disability. The Member for Social Services Mr Bill Malarkey MHK said: “I have witnessed at first hand the lifestyle of many service users with a learning disability and the Isle of Man should be proud of its achievements in delivering community based services which were once thought unattainable.” The Department remains committed to the principles of an ordinary life for adults with a learning disability and providing high quality services, but there is recognition that resources are finite. One key focus will be to ensure that services provide good value for money. One example of this has been the good working relationship with public sector housing colleagues which has resulted in a significant number of people now living more independently in their own homes with support, with less reliance on more expensive forms of residential care. - ENDS -