Overview

This bill mandates a public consultation in England to review services for adults with learning disabilities. The consultation will examine the quality and extent of services across various areas, including education, employment, housing, recreation, and transportation, and will consider whether improvements are needed to meet existing legal obligations and best practices.

Description

The bill requires the Secretary of State to conduct a public consultation reviewing services for adults with learning disabilities and their carers in England who meet the criteria for a needs assessment under the Care Act 2014. The consultation must assess:

• Service Provision: The quality and extent of education, employment, housing, recreational, and public transportation services, focusing on accessibility and support for independent living.
• EHC Plans: Whether education, health, and care (EHC) plans should continue for young people with learning disabilities beyond age 25.
• Health Services: The provision of physical and mental health services, including whether local authorities and NHS bodies are fulfilling their equality duties and implementing measures to address social and economic health determinants.
• UN Convention Compliance: The extent to which the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is being implemented.
• Data Collection: Whether local authorities should collect and publish data comparing health outcomes for adults with learning disabilities to the general population.
• Health Education England Training: Whether Health Education England should include specialist training for delivering all health services to adults with learning disabilities as an objective.

The consultation must be co-chaired by a person or persons with learning difficulties. A report outlining the consultation's findings and government proposals for improvements must be published and laid before Parliament within one year of the bill's enactment.

Government Spending

The bill itself doesn't directly allocate funds. The cost will depend on the recommendations arising from the consultation and subsequent government response. No specific figures are provided.

Groups Affected

• Adults with learning disabilities: Directly affected by the review of services and potential improvements.
• Carers of adults with learning disabilities: Their needs and experiences will be considered during the consultation.
• Local authorities: Responsible for delivering many of the services under review and may face additional responsibilities or requirements based on the consultation findings.
• NHS bodies: Responsible for providing health services for adults with learning disabilities. The consultation could lead to changes in service provision or training requirements.
• Education providers: The review will examine the accessibility and quality of education and training services for adults with learning disabilities.
• Employers: The review considers access to employment services, including work experience, career advice, and apprenticeships for adults with learning disabilities.

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