Since the Winterbourne View scandal, over 10 years ago, successive governments have committed to reducing the number of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in inpatient settings and prioritising community support for these individuals. However, missed and delayed policy targets suggest a more radical approach to unlocking funding for community provision is urgently needed. Too often autistic people and people with learning disabilities are assessed as needing to stay in an A...

Since the Winterbourne View scandal, over 10 years ago, successive governments have committed to reducing the number of autistic people and people with learning disabilities in inpatient settings and prioritising community support for these individuals. However, missed and delayed policy targets suggest a more radical approach to unlocking funding for community provision is urgently needed. Too often autistic people and people with learning disabilities are assessed as needing to stay in an Assessment and Treatment Unit (ATU) not for temporary assessment or treatment but simply because appropriate community provision is not available, as evid Type: conclusion | Number: 4 | Paragraph: 42 | Response status: under_consideration Government response: We agree with some of this suggestion. It is important that we have places that people can go for mental health treatment if they need it. Where people have to go to a mental health hospital we must check that the quality of care and support