To ask the Minister of Health to detail (i) his Department and Health and Social Care Trust plans to deliver day opportunities for people with a learning disability from September 2024; (ii) the number of people with a learning disability that will be supported each week through this; and (iii) how much of this will be delivered by voluntary and community sector providers, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.

DoH are currently finalising the Learning Disability Service Model which sets out Learning Disability Services through the lens of regional consistency and supporting need at an early stage in the community. The service model sets out the Department’s vision for transitions, health & wellbeing, meaningful lives & citizenship, families & carers, home, and mental health & behavioural support services.

Meaningful Lives & Citizenship in terms of Health and Social Care, aims to continue the expansion of Community-Based Day Opportunities, which will require cross-departmental and multi-agency working. This also represents a shift from traditional hours of services, to enable people with learning disabilities to access more diverse activities on evenings and weekends. There is a notable interface with Day Opportunities and Community Transport, therefore work is underway with DfI to explore opportunities to maximise this service.

It is difficult to predict the number of people with a learning disability that will be supported each week, as eligibility for Day Opportunities Services is determined following individual’s assessment of need. A Day Opportunity may be provided in line with an individual’s assessed need. Currently, Day Opportunities data is not consistently captured across all HSC Trusts. Work is commencing to support consistent collation of Day Opportunities data across HSC Trusts.

The DOH through the service model plans to carry out a review of the current Regional Day Opportunities Model on a cross-departmental basis, to define the roles across government to enable people with learning disabilities to have a meaningful life. This will include putting in place arrangements for joint resourcing and management of community services. The Department will also set and monitor KPIs for the HSC Trusts to expand Day Opportunities and the transition away from Buildings-Based Day Services.

Health and Social Care Trusts are responsible for commissioning and delivering Day Opportunities for adults with learning disabilities, aligned to assessed needs. HSC Trusts currently commission a range of Community and Voluntary Sector organisations to provide a range of locally-delivered services and opportunities.