To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department has any plans to develop a strategic programme to support adults with learning disabilities and behaviours of concern to move from institutional settings into bespoke domiciliary care arrangements, supported by comprehensive Positive Behaviour Support frameworks and close family involvement.

The draft Learning Disability Service Model (LDSM) sets out clear ambitions for people with a learning disability to be supported to live with the highest level of independence possible.

A key outcome will be for every individual to have their needs and strengths assessed using a regionally consistent, rights based and person-centred approach. This will ensure that services are targeted according to the assessed needs of individuals and will be informed by a regionally agreed and standardised approach, including the right for individuals to choose where and who they want to live with.

It is recognised that adults with learning disabilities require a range of supports to live as independently as possible. Supports required may include the provision of a range of services, from floating support to accommodation-based services. Developments in housing adaptations and assistive technology can also enable individuals to manage daily tasks, build life skills and maintain choice and control over their living situations.

It is important to recognise that the Health and Social Care system does not provide housing, but works with other agencies to ensure access to appropriate accommodation when required.

Whilst the provision of accommodation is not considered the specific remit of HSC Trusts, Trusts do provide care placements or services where adults with a learning disability reside. Such care placements may be within residential, nursing home, supported living or bespoke/single occupancy settings.

Trusts utilise statutory provision and work with independent sector providers to meet the individual assessed needs of adults with a learning disability. In addition, Trusts work closely with family members to support individuals to remain in the family home offering care and services to meet assessed need, through domiciliary/home care provision or self-directed support. Trusts also work with family members and relevant professionals to develop Positive Behaviour Support Plans to support individuals to reside within appropriate community placements. The new LDSM will consider the development of a strategy to implement a regionally consistent Positive Behaviour Framework. The Department recognises and values the importance of close family involvement to support individuals to remain living within their communities.

Trusts also work with other agencies such as the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to enable adults with learning disabilities to access accommodation suitable to their needs, for example in supported living settings. Trusts continue to actively engage with independent providers to extend existing services or develop new services/range of accommodation types to meet the population needs of adults with learning disabilities. It is acknowledged that there are challenges in securing and developing suitable placements or accommodation for adults with complex needs and in sustaining individuals within their local community placements, particularly within a restricted funding or commissioning envelope.

My Department is currently leading on the reform of Adult Social Care through the Social Care Collaborative Reform Board (SCCRB). This includes the Sustainable System Building Implementation Group which will support actions aimed at improving the model of care within care homes. In addition, the Supported Living Implementation Group will review and reshape how Supported Living services are commissioned, regulated and delivered. It will propose options to better regulate Supported Living services, including the development of standards and regulations if appropriate, and develop a standardised commissioning framework for Supported Living services.

My Department remains committed to ensuring adults with learning disabilities have access to accommodation and services, in line with assessed individual and population need.