What is Valuing People Now?
Valuing People is a cross government strategy for delivering improved services and support for people with learning difficulties.
Valuing People Now is the big plan for people with learning difficulties. It says:
• What should happen to make things better for people with learning difficulties
• What the Government will do
• What the Government thinks different services should do
Why Valuing People Now?
Lots of good things and changes have happened since Valuing People was published in 2001 but more needs to be done.
Valuing People Now does not change the Valuing People policy – the Governments policy about the lives of people with learning difficulties.
What does Valuing People Now say?
Valuing People Now says that for positive changes to be made we need to all work together to make sure people with learning difficulties get the same opportunities as everyone and that they are treated fairly.
Valuing People Now says that the most important work needed to make changes happen for people with learning difficulties are:
• To have strong leadership and a good Learning Difficulties Partnership Board in every local authority area
• To make sure that the Strategic Health Authorities and Primary Care Trusts are working to make sure health services are better and more accessible
• To give more housing choices for people with learning difficulties and their families
• People with learning difficulties having control of their lives and getting person centred plans
• More paid jobs of 16 hours a week for people with learning difficulties
• To improve how children and adult services work together so that people are supported to plan for future employment and a full life
Out of these 6 priorities, 4 are identified as having the most impact on improving the lives of people with learning difficulties. These are:
• Health
• Housing
• Employment
• Personalisation
What the LDPB will do next year to make Valuing People Now happen
In the next 12 months the LDPB will make sure that it focuses on 4 priority areas of Valuing People Now.
It will also make sure that there is more work done to improve the lives of people with additional and complex needs and people from Black and minority ethnic communities.