The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities welcomes the white paper Valuing People. But we share Mencap's concern that the white paper may not improve the lives of those with profound difficulties and their families, unless particular attention is paid to their needs (News Analysis, 22 November).
For adults the principles of choice, independence, inclusion and rights can only become a reality if there are sufficient human resources to provide the necessary support. This was demonstrated in our report, Everyday Lives, Everyday Choices (2000). Building relationships, establishing ways of communicating and advocacy were all crucial in listening to the wishes of those with profound learning difficulties and creating opportunities to lead a fuller life.
One of the most shocking findings was how little importance was attached to supporting friendships, described as a "taboo subject" by a project leader. What must it be like for a young person with profound learning difficulties to leave school where all social life is likely to have occurred, often with little chance of ever seeing friends again, unless someone else takes the initiative?
The findings of the Mencap report resonate with many of my experiences as the parent of Peter, a young man who had profound learning difficulties. I would echo the call for more support, particularly in times like school holidays. Continuity in specialist provision was also important. When we eventually saw a psychologist who was able to help with addressing Peter's frustrations, he moved on and was not replaced.
Above all, I wanted others to see Peter's life as of equal value with other young people, and had always believed that he should be able to lead a full life on leaving school, taking up continuing education for example, and if he became ill he should be treated like any other teenager.
Great commitment is needed from those implementing the white paper to ensure that the particular needs of those with profound learning difficulties, whether adults or children, are not overlooked.
Hazel Morgan
Head, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Society did not consult
Community Care has it right (Editorial Comment, 22 November), but Children's Society chief executive Ian Sparks is completely confused (Viewpoint, 6 December).
The Children's Society made no effort whatsoever to inform the National Assembly for Wales of their intention to pull out of our country. The first my colleague Jane Hutt, minister for health and social services, knew about the news was on the morning it was announced. Had we been consulted earlier, who knows what might have been possible. Unfortunately in his haste to cut their spending, Mr Sparks was not willing to explore alternatives.
Mr Sparks also alleges that the Welsh assembly turned down applications for grant aid from the Children's Society. I am not aware that the Children's Society has ever made any applications to the assembly. An application for European funding under the Objective One programme was turned down by the Wales European Funding Office because the society was not able to demonstrate "additionality" as required by the European Commission.
Finally, Mr Sparks claims that advocacy services for children are a statutory requirement in Wales. This is simply untrue. We have a children's commissioner with statutory powers to investigate and act as an advocate for children and young people, but there is no statutory requirement for either local authorities or the assembly to ensure the provision of advocacy services for children in Wales. The assembly encourages the provision of these services, the value of which was clearly demonstrated by Waterhouse, but we do not require their provision.
Ann Jones
Welsh assembly member (Vale of Clwyd)
Importance of culture
The inquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie has highlighted the importance of fully establishing the impact of young people's cultural needs within the "child in need" assessment process (News, page 6, 29 November). Lisa Arthurworrey, the social worker assigned to work with Victoria, has admitted to making decisions based on generalised assumptions about Caribbean families. She was unaware that Victoria had come from the Ivory Coast.
Arthurworrey saw Victoria's timidity as a cultural show of respect. These stereotypical assumptions can be endemic in social care agencies. The Bibini Centre has had first hand experience of the lack of consideration of black young people's cultural needs in our role as a provider of services to black children and families.
We have seen at first hand the frequent marginalisation of issues of race, religion and ethnicity, in the support and assessment of black children. In fact it has been suggested to us by some professionals that meeting young people's needs within a placement or other service is effectively a luxury, one which can only be considered when other assessed support needs have been met.
Yoni Ejo
Chief executive
The Bibini Centre for Young People
Manchester
Training role to continue
There will be more than six of the new sector skills councils replacing the current national training organisations next spring, although we don't yet know the exact number (News, page 14, 29 November).
After your report was published, the Department for Education and Skills said that no public sector related national training organisation would be among the trailblazers. So that leaves Topss to make a UK-wide bid for an ordinary sector skills council licence next spring, so we can continue our role in modernising the social care workforce. We are confident that we can meet the DfES licence requirements.
Kevin Thomas
Communications manager
Topss England
