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A case for Local Area Co-ordination Angela Henderson
Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability
What is Local Area Co-ordination?
• Originated in Australia
• Based on 10 principles
• Local Area Co-ordinators:
– Work alongside communities, supporting them to become more welcoming and inclusive
– Work with individuals and their families to help them to become more confident, supporting them to achieve their dreams and to build independent lives.
What is Local Area Co-ordination?
“The LAC approach promotes the rights of people with support needs to live ordinary lives within their local communities and is focussed on developing a relationship with the individual, the family and communities. The aim is to increase or support inclusion by supporting people to develop their individual capacity and working with communities to develop their capacity for inclusion.”
The Scottish Strategy for Autism, 2011
Background
• Introduced to Scotland in 2000 as part of ‘The same as you?’ review of learning disability services
“Health boards and local authorities should agree to appoint local area co-ordinators for learning disabilities from current resources used for managing care and co-ordinating services.”
• SCLD is funded to support the ongoing development and implementation of LAC in Scotland
Values into Practice
• Identified 5 core work areas:
– Information, signposting and guiding
– Developing relationships
– Planning, empowerment and promoting independent living
– Promoting inclusion
– Influencing public service delivery
LAC Outcomes
People supported by LACs:
• have the right information and support to live their lives as they choose
• Are more in control of decisions and choices about their lives
• Have more knowledge of their rights and what it means to be a citizen
• Actively plan for their future
• Have increased skills for independent living
LAC Outcomes
In communities:
• more information is available in accessible formats
• Disabled people are more actively involved in community decision making
• Public places are adapted to enable better access
• Everyone is welcomed as an equal citizen
LAC in Scotland Some facts:
• In 2011, 2,992 adults were identified by eSAY as having an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis
• In 2011, 2,337 adults were identified by eSAY as using LAC services
• Of the adults using LAC services, 273 had an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis
LAC in Scotland
• Currently 81 LACs in Scotland in 20 local authority areas
• Most employed by local authority (75% in 2010)
• Average number of people supported by LAC 27 (SCLD survey 2012)
• Within this 7 people identified as having autism
Scottish Autism Strategy
“Our vision is that individuals on the autism spectrum are respected, accepted and valued by
their communities and have confidence in services to treat them fairly so that they are able
to have meaningful and satisfying lives.”
Supporting strategy implementation
Foundations: • Support access to mainstream services • Contribution to implementation of
commissioning guidelines Whole life journey: • Adopting and promoting good practice guidance
across education, health and social care • Transition planning • Building capacity and awareness in mainstream
services
Supporting strategy implementation
Holistic personalised approaches:
• Improving the way public services are delivered by facilitating partnership working
• Providing flexible support across the lifespan
The future?
• LAC contribute to building supports and services that enable people with autism to achieve positive outcomes
• Supporting local strategy development
• Consolidating and improving existing practice
Thank you
T: 0141 559 5720
W: www.scld.org.uk/local-area-co-ordination
