Agenda item

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health and Care

The Committee heard that there were approximately 21,000 adults with a learning disability living in Staffordshire, of whom 3,400 had a moderate or severe disability, and 7,000 adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 26,000 Staffordshire residents aged 18-65 had a disability that made personal care difficult; 35,000 aged over 65 were unable to manage at least one mobility activity on their own. 6,200 adults had registrable eye conditions or were severely visually impaired; 18,200 experienced severe hearing loss.

The committee were informed that currently, national prevalence data for children and young people was limited, with no national repository of quality reviewed data for individuals under 18.

The majority of people with disabilities and neurodivergences managed with help and support from their family, friends and communities, and assistance from technologies. The importance of accessibility for universal services was stressed, including: education and lifelong learning; shops, leisure and cultural activities within the community; health and wellbeing services; work and money; social life and connections. Appropriate housing options were also important to enable independent living.

A small number of people with disabilities and neurodivergences were eligible for dedicated care and support from the County Council and/or the NHS and needed a reasonable choice of good quality, sustainable services. Staffordshire County Council and the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) had agreed to jointly develop a new ‘Living my Best Life’: Joint Strategy for Disabled and Neurodivergent people in Staffordshire 2023-2028, replacing the current Whole Life Disability Strategy 2018-2023. The new Strategy aspired to support all disabled and neurodivergent individuals to live the best lives possible.  A new Staffordshire Disability Partnership Board had been created to co-ordinate development and oversee implementation of the Strategy, reporting to the Health and Wellbeing Board. The Strategy complemented the Staffordshire Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Strategy and the SEND Strategy for Special Provision.

Members considered detail of the Strategy development and the learning so far. An associated action plan was being co-produced, with this expected to be in place by the end of December 2023. Delivery of the action plan would be overseen by the new Disability Partnership Board and ultimately, the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Throughout the engagement process the importance of giving individuals the time and space to speak for themselves was emphasised. The Strategy endeavoured to ensure individuals were given the opportunity and ability to help themselves rather than services being “done to” them, keeping the individual at the heart of services and focusing on removing barriers and looking at what the individual could achieve rather than what they couldn’t.

The Committee queried how the aspirations of the Strategy and its vision would be achieved, specifically asking how opportunities for learning and development, and for increased help when needed, would be realised. Working towards improving access to opportunities, including further and higher education, helped address these issues, and would also support employability. A lack of understanding remained a barrier towards employability, including in some instances within job centres However examples of excellent practice could be seen, such as within the Police, but there was further work to be done.

Whilst Members endorsed the Strategy, they remained concerned at its breadth, asking how success would be measured. Detail would be included in the Action Plan, highlighting success measures. Members supported the ideology of putting the individual at the heart of the strategy, however they felt there was a need for significant cultural change, citing as an example work within the NHS, where patients were routinely asked what was the matter with them, rather than what mattered to them.

Concern was shared over a reference within the Strategy that improvements would be made where funding allowed. Members were informed that as a general point if one strategy included this comment then all strategies should, as working within the budgetary confines was a requirement for all. Members were also reminded that a tension existed between producing a strategy that explained in detail its’ delivery and one that was accessible and readable.

Resolved: the “Living Your Best Life”: Joint Strategy for Disabled and Neurodivergent people in Staffordshire 2023-2028 be supported.