Chamber and committees

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-19734 on 21 January 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Scottish Government does not believe there is a strong business case identifying the need for this service.

There are no plans to expand the Scottish Driving Assessment Service.

The number of patients referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service in 2007-08, broken down by NHS board, was:

NHS Board	Number of Referrals Received
Ayrshire and Arran	66
Borders	44
Dumfries and Galloway	39
Fife	123
Forth Valley	71
Grampian	124
Greater Glasgow	219
Highland	63
Lanarkshire	120
Lothian	342
Orkney	2
Shetland	1
Tayside	74
Western Isles	4
Total	1,292

 

Information concerning the number of patients referred to the Scottish Driving Assessment Service for the first nine months of 2008-09, broken down by NHS board, is not held centrally.

The single outcome agreements (SOA) reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. Copies of all 32 SOAs which were agreed with local authorities on 30 June can be obtained via the Improvement Service web site by following the following link

http://www.improvementservice.org.uk/component/option,com_docman/Itemid,43/task,cat_view/gid,561/.

Local authorities will now be accountable for the outcomes they agree to deliver through single outcome agreements. The single outcome agreements reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each council and include relevant supporting indicators and targets. We would expect them to be working with their partners and service users to ensure the outcomes reflect the expectations of all service users.

The Scottish Government will commission a major piece of research for early 2010 to look at how The same as you? has improved the quality of life for people with learning disabilities and their families.

The Scottish Government collects annual statistical returns about the provision of services for people with learning disabilities. From 2008 this information will be collated through the eSAY project, which outlines a set of national data standards to ensure information is recorded and measured in the same way across Scotland. The Scottish Government is working with the partnership in practice network, which includes representatives from local authorities and health boards, to support the measurement and demonstration of outcomes at a local level through eSAY.

The Social Work Inspection Agency and Care Commission will also continue to have a role in evaluating the delivery of services and monitoring regulated care settings.

The same as you? implementation group will continue to work on identified priorities specific to people with learning disabilities. This will be complimented by work to develop an approach to Independent Living, with a focus on ensuring choice and control for all disabled people, enabling independence and inclusion.

Action has been taken on each of the 29 recommendations in The same as you? resulting in a significant shift in the balance of care from people living in institutional settings to community based support services. Annual returns have been submitted from all local authorities on implementation of the review, which demonstrate an increase in tenancies, personal life plans, local area coordination and alternative day opportunities. The 2007 return can be accessed on the Scottish Government website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/03/20154612/0.

The overall aim of the review was to ensure that people with learning disabilities are included in our communities and involved in decisions about their lives. It recognised that general community services should be accessible where possible with specialist services available as required.