Press

Press Release

4th December 2007

Learning disability consultation offers opportunity that must be taken says United Response

Responding to the publication today of the Government's consultation document, 'Valuing People Now', Su Sayer, chief executive of United Response said:

"We welcome the consultation "Valuing People Now" and the clear statement from the Govermnent that the principles of rights, independence, choice and inclusion should continue to set the framework for policy and service provision for people with learning disabilities. In particular we welcome the emphasis on personalisation to enable more people to have genuine choice and control in their lives and the commitment to improve equality of access to mainstream health services.

"We hope the emphasis on "making it happen", for example through strengthening the role of learning disability partnership boards and improving local service commissioning, will ensure that the aspirations in the consultation paper are translated into effective action. There has been enormous progress since the publication of the Valuing People white paper nearly seven years ago in improving the lives of people with learning disabilities. However, as the paper itself notes, there is more to do, such as closing the hospital campuses the Health Care Commission has itself condemned, and helping more people into paid employment.

"These are all important and necessary objectives, which is why it is important that they are matched by the right resources. We and other like-minded organisations will seek to work closely with the Government and local authorities to ensure that the progressive and transformational agenda laid out today becomes a practical reality. This is a real opportunity to give people with learning disabilities a better life, and it must be taken."

Ends

For more information or to set up an interview with United Response, please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on or

or call 020 8246 5122 / 020 8246 5237

Notes to editors: United Response is a national charity that works with people with learning disabilities or mental health needs – including some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
 
We provide everything from 24 hour care to a few hours of support a week. United Response is community based, working in many localities across England and Wales.
 
Our mission is to support people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to take control of their lives. We design our care and support around each person and work with them to achieve real inclusion, independence and citizenship for all. We support people across the whole spectrum of learning disability and mental health and have developed a range of specialisms in working with people with the most complex needs, particularly person-centred active support.
 
We are working towards a society where people with learning disabilities or mental health needs are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
 
We have won several awards for our pioneering work and for being a top employer. In 2007 alone, we have been highly commended by the Charity Awards for our “Good To Great” approach to providing support, while the Charity Times named us one of the best six charities to work for in the UK. We are experts in the development of accessible communications.
 
United Response was founded in 1973 by chief executive Su Sayer. We are a top 100 charity, supporting more than 1,500 people throughout the UK at any one time and employing more than 2,000 staff.