AQW 49567/22-27
Mrs Michelle Guy
Alliance Party
Lagan Valley
Tabled Date: 24/06/2026
Answered On Date: 29/07/2026
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail any long term plans for Health and Social Care Trust-operated residential care homes for adults with learning disabilities, given the emphasis of policy on supported living and enabling people to live in their own homes and communities.
Answer:
Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) are responsible for the provision of health and social care services in accordance with population and individual assessed need. Whilst the provision of accommodation is not considered the specific remit of HSCTs, they do provide care placements and services where adults with a learning disability reside. Such care placements may be within residential care, nursing care, supported living or bespoke/single occupancy settings. HSCTs also work with other agencies, including the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, to enable adults with learning disabilities to access accommodation suitable to their needs. HSCTs continue to actively engage with independent sector providers to extend existing services and develop a range of accommodation options to meet the population needs of adults with learning disabilities. My Department's long-term strategic plans for adult learning disability services will be taken forward through the draft Learning Disability Service Model, which is intended to provide the long-term strategic framework for the transformation and improvement of adult learning disability services across Northern Ireland. The draft Model sets out an ambition that people with a learning disability will be supported to live with the highest level of independence possible. It recognises that adults with a learning disability require a range of supports to live as independently as possible, including support for those living in the family home and those living in alternative settings, and that the Health and Social Care system will continue to work with other agencies to ensure access to appropriate accommodation when required. The draft Model also includes proposals to strengthen long-term planning for accommodation through regionally consistent needs registers, regular review of accommodation needs, population-level review of accommodation-based and floating support services, continued partnership working with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and other agencies, and access to placements that meet individual assessed need, including bespoke accommodation where appropriate. The public consultation on the draft Learning Disability Service Model has concluded and my Department is currently considering the consultation responses. The final Learning Disability Service Model and accompanying Strategic Delivery Plan will be published following completion of the consultation analysis. In finalising the Model, my Department will also carefully consider the recommendations of the Muckamore Abbey Hospital Inquiry, where relevant, to ensure they inform the future development and improvement of adult learning disability services.
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