Enter and view: The equipment needs of people with learning disabilities at Brightways and Rutwel, Rutland

In October 2016, Healthwatch Rutland produced an Enter and View report on the equipment needs of people with learning disabilities and additional needs attending Brightways and Rutwel Community Support Services. The report does not disclose how many people were spoken to.

The visits came about as a result of conflicting anecdotal information about the way in which various aids for people with learning difficulties could be accessed.

The main finding of the report include.

• At both Brightways and Rutwel staff and service users appeared friendly and enjoying the use of the service.

• The location of Rutwel in Oakham found the facilities were not of a good standard.

• Brightways equipment was generally very good but there are issues relating to lack of equipment to aid the opening of doors and variable air extraction from personal hygiene spaces.

• The service offered by the wheel chair service received considerable criticism.

• Staff said a five to six month wait from the initial request to Leicestershire Partnership Trust for the provision of specialist equipment was not unusual and that most of this delay was believed to be associated with obtaining a decision about funding.

Recommendations within the report included

• The County Council, in consultation with service users, local staff and carers, should review the service in Rutwel.

• A review of accommodation for Brightways as it whether it could be further enhanced.

• Procedures to be developed, removing delays in assessing the equipment needs of people with Learning Disabilities and additional needs.

Healthwatch Rutland received various responses to the work and were offered an opportunity to meet and view the operating model.

Following the findings in the report, Healthwatch Rutland recommended they should undertake an investigation into the needs of wheelchair users in Rutland and the facilities available to meet these needs.