Book Summary:
Policy and practice guidelines for working with people with learning disabilities state that users and carers must be consulted in the provision of services. However, whether this is useful or effective in practice has not yet been adequately considered.
This book traces the development of services for people with disabilities and discusses how much things have really changed for today's 'service users' since the days of asylums. It also assesses whether the policy of involvement, such as that outlined in Valuing People, is achievable in practice or simply places unrealistic burdens on professionals and service users.
Based on findings from original research and interviews, the author argues that involving people with learning disabilities in service planning is difficult to achieve successfully and is currently, to a large extent, tokenistic. This area of challenging practice and emotive debate is brought to life by the voices of service providers, carers and the service users themselves, and illustrates the realities of working with people with learning disabilties.
Planning for Life will be valuable and informative for students of social work, social care and social policy, and will be enlightening reading for those working with adults with learning disabilities, in learning and in practice. |