What is 'special' about national health service residences for people with learning disabilities? An audit of residential needs

Abstract

The results of this audit showed that the NHS residents tended to be more able, in terms of level of learning disabilities, however required greater help in managing challenging behaviour and mental health problems; whereas residents living in Partnership Housing Schemes tended to be less able in terms of learning disability, and they appeared to display less challenging behaviour. This study has gone a long way in trying to determine differences between the NHS and partnership scheme service provision. There are important differences, which are fundamental in definition in order to pay full consideration to which service provision benefits which service users most adequately. The establishment of these differences will assist in trying to determine the exact role and function of these units in comparison within the NHS service provision.