My Views Matter: Residential and in-patient care for people with learning disabilities and autism in Norfolk

Between April 2018 and July 2020, three patients, Joanna, “Jon” and Ben, died at Cawston Park Hospital in North Norfolk, having suffered neglect and abuse.

They were all in their 30s, and they all had learning disabilities. An important finding of reports into the tragedy was that the views of patients and their families were systematically ignored by the hospital.

As part of the system response to these events, the Healthwatch Norfolk board agreed to undertake a review of the residential and in-patient sector caring for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

In line with Healthwatch's mandate this review has looked at three main questions:

1. How have the residential care and secure-inpatient sectors caring for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in Norfolk changed in recent years, and what plans are in place for the future?

2. What mechanisms are in place in the sector to make sure people’s voices are heard and acted upon?

3. What do people using these residential and in-patient services, and their families, think about the care they receive?

To answer question 1, Healthwatch Norfolk spoke to 25 professionals working in the sector and conducted desk research. For questions 2 and 3, Healthwatch Norfolk carried out 21 Enter and Views, interviewed 58 family members, and commissioned a user-led advocacy organisation for people with learning disabilities and autism, Opening Doors, to run focus groups with their members about their experiences of residential care.

This report details the findings of this research, and outlines recommendations directed at both providers and the local health and social system.