Choice Support employee on Undateables - Channel 4

Janette, who works as a receptionist at Choice Support's head office, appeared on Undateables on Channel 4 on 15 January. Janette said she really enjoyed the whole experience: "It's exciting, like butterflies in my stomach at the moment."

You can still watch the programme here.

Department of Health response to Winterbourne View

On 10 December the government published its final report in response to the Winterbourne View scandal. Choice Support Chief Executive Steven Rose (representing the Housing and Support Alliance) was one of a small number invited to attend a briefing with Norman Lamb, Minister of State for Care and Support, in advance of publication. 

The report proposes extensive action, including:

• By spring 2013, the department will set out proposals to strengthen accountability of boards of directors and senior managers for the safety and quality of care which their organisations provide.

• By June 2013, all current placements will be reviewed, everyone in hospital inappropriately will move to community-based support as quickly as possible, and no later than June 2014. 

• By April 2014, each area will have a joint plan to ensure high quality care and support services for all people with learning disabilities or autism and mental health conditions or behaviour described as challenging, in line with best practice.

A new NHS and local government-led joint improvement team will lead and support this transformation. It will result in a "dramatic reduction" in the number of people with learning disabilities placed in hospitals in England, Norman Lamb says.

Speaking after the briefing, Steven Rose said: 

"The minister looked like he meant business. If everything recommended in this report happens it will change for the better the lives of many people with learning disabilities."

A number of relatives of people who had been abused at Winterbourne View were present at the briefing. One asked a question about inspections, to which David Behan, CQC, responded that all future learning disability inspections would be unannounced. He also said that Experts by Experience - people with experience of services - would become more involved in the inspection process. Choice Support is the lead support organisation contracted by CQC to recruit, train and manage Experts by Experience.

The full report and a statement by Norman Lamb can be found here.  

In 2011 Choice Support took a lead role in writing an Association for Supported Living report, There is an Alternative, which is referenced in the new government report. It presents evidence that community based support is more effective and cheaper than hospital support. There is an Alternative includes case studies of Choice Support services.  

Choice Support featured in SCIE publication

The Social Care Institute For Excellence (SCIE) has published a personalisation briefing paper featuring a case study about Choice Support.

Co-produced with the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), the paper describes Choice Support's work creating multiple communication channels to encourage people who use services and their families/carers to influence service management and development.

Read it here. 

Steven Rose interviewed in Daily Mail

Choice Support's Chief Executive, Steven Rose, is interviewed in the Daily Mail about the Department of Health's forthcoming final response to the Winterbourne View scandal. Speaking in his capacity as a director of the Housing and Support Alliance, he says:

"These hospitals, no matter how well they are run, are breeding grounds for abuse. People are left there for decades, and it is a cycle that demeans people. They are locked in, there is no stimulation, it is a very spartan environment. These companies get paid a fortune to house these people so they have no incentive to help make people better. We are very clear that there is a better, higher quality solution in the community that costs a lot less money."

Read the article here. 

See here for more about the Housing and Support Alliance.