The Council's proposals are designed to offer a more flexible range of opportunities tailored to an individual's needs and aspirations in line with 'The Same As You?' review of services for people with learning disabilities. They aim to support people in their own communities through employment, lifelong learning, and social and recreational opportunities.
The recommendations include:
- Developing the John Chant Centre in Penicuik into a community resource centre to support small, flexible teams which will help people take advantage of day opportunities within their own communities;
- Piloting a person-centred approach that will help people design, commission and control their own support packages;
- Developing an employment strategy and supports to link with the day opportunity programme;
- Linking community-based day activities to residential support so that people who require 24-hour care can benefit from a "whole life" approach;
- Retaining day centre places at Cherry Road, Bonnyrigg for those who choose them while maximising the potential for community-based activities.
Councillor Danny Molloy, Cabinet Member for Housing and Social Work, said, "These proposals are the result of a comprehensive consultation with our service users and other stakeholders. We are working within the context of a Lothian-wide learning disability strategy review and its conclusion and costed pilots will form a major part of the final report which will be brought back to Midlothian Council...It's about providing equality of opportunity and choice for people with a learning disability to work, learn and socialise and we intend to continue our consultation with those involved to develop this strategy."
