Amanda Platts’ Presentation to the Challenging Behaviour Foundation’s National Steering Group Meeting in London on 4th October 2011 On behalf of the

Introduction Hello, I’m Amanda Platts, the Co-Chair of the National Forum of People with Learning Difficulties. The other Co- Chair is Gavin Harding.

The National Forum The National Forum is an organisation funded by the Department of Health so that the Government can hear the views and opinions of people with learning disabilities directly. There are 9 Regional Forums that elect representatives to come back to the National meetings. They report back on what people with learning disabilities have said in their Regions. We also now have an invited representative who has complex needs, presenting at the National Forum’s meetings. After the National Forum has discussed the issues, the Co-Chairs report to the Learning Disability Programme Board. We work closely with the National Valuing Families Forum at the Programme Board, and so are pleased to be invited to speak at your meeting today.

Our Campaigns This year, we are focussing on how people with learning disabilities are able to live their lives in the community NOW! We know that things are getting harder for people, because of the effects of the cuts to services, and to the different kinds of support that individuals are getting.

We think that the Government, Local Authorities and organisations that provide services, need to be better at communicating with people with learning disabilities. They should visit our groups, talk to people themselves face to face, and listen to what we are saying. They also need to make sure that they use Easy Read for any information that they send out.

Working with the CQC Gavin and myself are members of CQC’s Learning Disability Review Advisory Group. This Group is looking at how inspections of places like Winterbourne View can be done much better. We asked that each Inspection Team should include Experts by Experience e.g. A person with a learning disability and their supporter, and a family carer. We are pleased to learn that this is now happening.

Thank you for listening. Have you got any questions?