Success for independent living scheme
MORE than 470 people with learning disabilities or mental health problems have been helped to live independently by a North Lanarkshire Council initiative.
A review of the council's supported living programme this week highlighted the success of the scheme which is designed to give individuals and their families more control over their lives.
Supported living enables individuals to choose where they live and with whom as part of the council's commitment to improving the lives of people with a disability.
It ensures that each individual's needs and wishes are assessed, and a personalised support package is put in place to meet those needs in their own home.
The council introduced the initiative shortly after it was formed following local government reorganisation in 1996 and the first people moved into supported living from long stay hospital care in 1998.
Duncan Mackay, the council's head of social work development, said: "Supported living has been a real success story for over 470 people who have been supported to live independently.
"It has allowed many people to move out of long-stay hospital care and live in their own home for the first time, while others are enjoying a variety of activities within their local community instead of attending a traditional day care centre.
"The feedback we received from the review was very positive overall, with everyone involved stating that supported living offers more choice and control for people with disabilities, especially when compared with residential care.
"As part of the review, we asked for people's views on the best options for the future development of the supported living services. From this we have agreed that the service will evolve to enable people to spend more time with family and friends, and less with staff from the council or provider.
"In addition, the council will change the way that we pay for these services, by agreeing the annual cost of supporting each individual and ensuring this is used by the provider to deliver the service that the individual and their family need and want."
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Weather for Motherwell, Scotland
Thursday 09 February 2012
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