After abuse at Whorlton Hall: 6 Big Questions for Transforming Care Partnerships

After abuse at Whorlton Hall, how can you know people with learning disabilities and/or autism where you live are safe?

A bemix group has written 6 Big Questions to ask local Transforming Care Partnerships. Feedback from 61 people and groups across England helped us improve them. They are written so people with learning disabilities and/or autism can ask questions and get answers. They are ideal for self-advocacy groups. But anyone can ask them - family carers, friends or professionals.

Download 6 Big Questions as PowerPoint slides

Download 6 Big Questions as slides in a ZIP file

Download 6 Big Questions as a PDF

Download our Easy Read guide to asking 6 Big Questions

Some questions people asked after watching Panaroma had plenty of anger and alarm behind them, but emotion doesn’t always ask the right questions. Care for people with learning disabilities and/or autism who may harm themselves or others is a complex system with a difficult history. Professionals at every level face huge challenges and most care deeply about people. But, while abuse can still happen, the right questions must be asked and the right actions taken - now and over the long-term.

Our group used their expertise to draft the questions they felt mattered most. While questions must be asked of the Care Quality Commission and government, the Transforming Care Partnership has local responsibility. Our questions are for them. They were made much sharper using feedback from people with learning disabilities and/or autism, family carers, health and social care professionals and academics. You can see all the feedback here. We thank everyone who took the trouble to share their knowledge and experience.

Our group worked through the Kent Learning Disability Partnership Board to secure a commitment from Kent's Corporate Director of Adult Social Care and Health to get them answered. Our Easy Read guide, downloadable above, advises on how to ask questions where you live and get answers.

The feedback showed people feel strongly there are other important questions to be asked about specific areas of care. Restraint, Advocacy and Care and Treatment Reviews are among the most important. We are considering writing further questions and will share news on this when we can.

Ann-Marie, Michael, Steve and Keith

Read our related news stories to follow our work in this area

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