Create national service framework for people with learning difficulties, say professionals

The government should create a national service framework for people with learning difficulties, say professionals who have launched a consultation on the issue.

Jim Blair, a senior university lecturer in learning difficulties in London, and Mike Kennard, chief executive of charity Signalong, have drawn up proposals following the investigation into abuse of people with learning difficulties in Cornwall.

In a questionnaire to organisations and service users circulated on the internet this week, Blair and Kennard said the “time seems right” for a learning difficulties NSF, following the Cornwall findings and lack of national targets in the sector.

The questionnaire has been sent out to gauge opinion ahead of a meeting of policy-makers in the autumn.

However, a Department of Health spokesperson said she was unaware of the proposal and that it was “unlikely to be considered” while work continued to implement the government’s Valuing People white paper, which was published in 2001.