‘I want to go home!’: Developing streamlined and effective housing solutions to support people with learning disabilities

The ‘Coming Home Implementation Report’ (Scottish Government, 2022) introduced a Dynamic Support Register (DSR) to monitor individuals with learning disabilities who are delayed in hospital, inappropriately placed out of area, or at risk of placement breakdown. This initiative aims to ensure focused planning and early intervention for timely solutions. Despite policies like ‘The Same as You?’ (2012) and ‘The Keys to Life’ (2013) advocating for suitable accommodation, around 1,500 people are still being admitted to, or remain in, long-stay institutions or placements away from their homes and families.

Research involving 17 semi-structured interviews with various stakeholders, including commissioners, policymakers, care providers, and registered social landlords (RSLs), reveals a willingness to collaborate but highlights a varied implementation landscape across Scotland. Differences in funding models, inconsistent interpretation of legislation, and cumbersome commissioning processes create long and frustrating experiences for individuals and their families. Barriers for stakeholders include long-term commitment, local funding policies, housing stock availability, and differences in the governance of Housing and Health and Social Care.

The research underscores the need to expand the DSR’s remit to include housing and to reform processes and structures for streamlined and effective housing solutions. A strategic pathway for action at both national and local levels, supported by a cross-agency operational mechanism, is essential. Aligning national policy targets with local strategies will facilitate cross-agency data sharing, collaboration, and planning, enhancing long-term strategic planning with shared objectives. This approach ensures that people with learning disabilities remain at the centre of these efforts, promoting community-based housing solutions.