Learning Disability Department restructure
 "Corinthia, one of our LD Dept service users.")
Corinthia, one of our LD Dept service users.
Outward has recently restructured its Learning Disability (LD) Services and Departments.
BACKGROUND
Outward made the decision in 2006 to create a specialist LD department. This would be managed and steered by a Director of Learning Disability Services. This appointment was made in February 2007.
Our LD service is now operating in 6 London Boroughs and is made up of Residential Care, Supported Living, Outreach and Domiciliary Care, Specialist ASD services, as well as small day-care opportunities based in Waltham Forest. This department has grown considerably and required a structure that supported managed growth and expansion.
We found through our day-to-day operations that the previous structure did not allow us to predict and respond to new initiatives as easily as we would like. It is clear that Outward has grown quickly in the services it provides in the previous year and were set to expand further in this present financial year 2008/09.
The previous arrangement was one where Registered Care services were grouped together with one service manager. The Supported Living was dispersed and had reporting responsibility to the support services manager and the director. This arrangement lacked a joined-up and cohesive strategy to support the services and the service users, should they wish to move from a service e.g. Registered Care into a Supported Living or in to a general needs accommodation. This is a significant factor when we are able to respond to the service users needs and the needs of our funders.
THE NEW LD STRUCTURE
The new structure gives greater accountability to managers to respond to changes be they internal or external. The key outcome will be to support and coach support workers to deliver services to people with learning disabilities that promotes choice and that "Involves, Enables and Empowers" the people we are working for and gives even greater opportunities for more independence.
The new teams now have strategic responsibility for the vision and direction of the service, as well as budget and void management and nurturing our external relationships with commissioners and care managers. It also strengthens our LD department relationship with our parent company Newlon, in order to develop further housing opportunities for our service users.
