Giant steps forward

THE way in which the Council provides services for people with learning disabilities has been dramatically changing.

Last year we invested £2m in this area. Day services for adults in particular have made giant steps, transforming the lives of those who would have been much more dependent on traditional institutionalised care.

The Local Area Co-ordination scheme is a prime example. In the past year, the project, which supports more than 200 people in Edinburgh, has expanded its service by more than 100 per cent.

Rather than bring people with learning disabilities together in a ‘centre’, Local Area Co-ordination offers community based work, leisure and educational opportunities.

As a result, the people who use the service can access community based services, build independence, maintain friendships and plan for the future. Whole families are also supported, but a key rule is that staff take the lead from their clients.

Liz McIntosh has been a client with the team for the past year.

Now her typical week includes dancing at a community class, horse-riding, independently using public transport, volunteering for a charity café, swimming – plus a paid job at a crèche.

How it works

The Local Area Co-ordination team was created using existing resources. It is now the largest service of its type in Scotland and has been recently extended to include people with physical disabilities.

The team has ten members, each with a case-load of about 30. People aged 16 plus with disabilities living in Edinburgh with carers or independently can either refer themselves or be referred through social work teams.