Mencap Chief Executive Jo Williams said that she did not expect the Comprehensive Spending Review, which assess what investments and reforms are needed in the UK’s public services and will set funding limits from 2008 to 2011, to help in meeting the challenges of the rising expectations and numbers of service users, and called for a “proper investment plan”.

Association of Directors of Adult Social Services president Anne Williams said there were major cost pressures on the £5bn budget for learning disabilities services in England.

She urged local authorities to become “champions” for deliv
ering changes to services. Citing the findings of a recent CSIP report on spending, Ms Williams said England was divided into “Careland” and “Communityland”.

The “Careland” group of councils, concentrated in the south of England, spent most of their learning disabilities funding on residential and nursing care. The “Communityland” councils, concentrated in the North of England spent most of their budgets on supported living and home care.  Ms Williams called for all councils to move towards and into “Communityland” and also appealed to councils to champion self-directed care and open up access to services for people with learning disabilities.