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Government White Paper - 'Valuing People'
On 20th March 2001 the first Government strategy on learning disabilities for 30 years was launched. This is the White Paper 'Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century'. It outlines how the Government aims to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities, and those of their families and carers.
What does 'Valuing People' say?
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There are 4 key values in 'Valuing People':
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Legal and Civil Rights
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Independence
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Choice
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Inclusion
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It looks at problems and challenges faced by people with learning disabilities at every stage of their lives, and makes proposals as to how these can be overcome.
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It says the only way to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities is for everyone to work more closely together (partnership working).
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It says how change will be brought about. This includes:
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the creation of a national Learning Disability Task Force, a Learning Disability Development Fund, and an Implementation Support Team.
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setting up local Partnership Boards who will write annual Joint Investment Plans.(see Leeds Learning Disability Partnership Board)
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It outlines a 5-year implementation programme that details objectives, deadlines, and performance indicators. This will help to make local agencies and the Government more accountable for improving the lives of people with learning disabilities.
Some of the improvements suggested by the Government are:
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a 5 year programme to modernise day services
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a Learning Disability Awards Framework to help raise qualification levels among care workers.
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developing specialist local services for people with behaviour that challenges services.
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wider implementation of Person-centred Planning and encouraging greater take up of Direct Payments.
Copies of 'Valuing People' are available from the Department of Health Stationery Office (quote Reference Cm 5086) PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN 
0870 600 5522.
The following symbols are used throughout the document
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