Strengthening the Commitment - The Interim Report of Scotland's National Implementation Group

Introduction

The publication of Strengthening the Commitment: the report of the UK Modernising Learning Disability Nursing Review has brought a welcome focus on learning disability nursing at UK level and within Scotland. This interim report presents progress in Scotland. It provides an overview of key successes, highlights best practice examples and outlines the next steps in continuing our commitment to strengthening learning disability nursing and ensuring people with a learning disability in Scotland receive the care they want, need and deserve.

Scotland set up a National Implementation Group (see Appendix 1) to oversee implementation of the Strengthening the Commitment recommendations. NHS boards were asked to establish a local implementation group with an identified lead and wide representation from key stakeholders to progress change at local level.

Michael Matheson MSP, then Minister for Public Health, launched Scotland’s Delivery Action Plan in March 2013, setting out actions for the National Implementation Group and NHS board local implementation groups. The UK Steering Group supports the country-level groups and continues to work across the four countries of the UK.

We have seen a number of key legislative and policy developments since the launch of Strengthening the Commitment in 2012, including:

The Keys to Life - Learning Disabilities Strategy (2013)

Social Care (Self-directed Support) (Scotland) Act 2013

Scottish National Plan on Human Rights 2013

Everyone Matters: 2020 workforce vision 2013

Public Bodies (Joint Working) Scotland Act 2014

Setting the Direction 2014

Taking time to reflect on the progress so far and develop this interim report allows us to consider the priorities going forward in light of these developments.

“There needs to be a commitment that people with learning disabilities and carers are involved to have a real say, not just there to tick a box. This means letting people have influence. People should be involved at the start so that they have a say on everything.”

Reference Group member