Ward, Cally

This report seeks to highlight the perspectives of family carers within the development of a national strategy for people with learning disabilities. The report represents a synthesis of a broad range of views, collected through consultation workshops, correspondence, conversations with family carers, and a review of the relevant  literature. 

It is ten years since Valuing People promised a ‘new deal’ for family carers. Valuing People was explicitly concerned to ensure a cultural shift in the way services worked with and conceptualised the role of family carers. It included specific objectives for involving families in local partnership boards, providing better support for them in their caring role and investing in family leadership nationally, regionally and locally. This article considers why there was a need for a more family-focused approach to support.

In line with the Carers and Disabled Children Act (2000), the DH has commissioned a series of projects to help in developing a comprehensive learning disability strategy. This report presents findings of a study undertaken by the Family Carers sub-group in 2000, involving a literature review and consultations with family carers in England, aimed at highlighting the experiences and perspectives of family carers, especially carers of adults with learning disability.