Council approves learning disability strategy - including new day centre

The council’s cabinet approved the strategy on March 20 Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

• Quick facts box

  • Cardiff Council’s cabinet approved a strategy to support adults with learning disabilities from 2024-2029

  • Plans include a new day centre (subject to grant funding) and better health check access

  • A five-year housing program will help adults with complex needs stay in their communities

Cardiff Council's cabinet approved a new strategy to for adults with learning disabilities to have “equal opportunities to succeed”.

As part of the strategy, the cabinet approved a new day centre for adults with complex needs, subject to grant funding.

The cabinet met on March 20 and agreed to ‘The Living Well with a Learning Disability Strategy for Adults 2024-2029’, which aims to promote independence and ensuring people feel close to their communities through “delivering quality services”.

Labour councillor Leonora Thomson, cabinet member for adult services told the cabinet she was “proud” of the strategy and that she felt it was “simple and compelling”.

Cllr Thomson, who also represents Riverside ward, detailed some of the proposals, including a new complex needs day service located at Oak House, St Mellons, an easy-to-use website launching in May 2025 and a focus on improving take-up of “vital” health checks of adults with learning disabilities.

The strategy also sets out the aim to embed a five year accommodation programme which has been developed in partnership with social landlords to support people with learning disabilities and other complex needs to continue to live within their communities. 

Cllr Thomson said:"This strategy demonstrates our commitment to delivering quality services for people with learning disabilities, their families, and carers.

“It is designed to support individuals with learning disabilities, ensuring they have equal opportunities to succeed in their academic, personal, and professional endeavours and underscores our dedication to creating an environment where every individual can thrive, regardless of the challenges they may face.

"By listening to people with learning disabilities, their families, and carers, we understand the need for all services to collaborate including social care, housing, health, education, and the third sector. Through this collaboration we aim to develop services that provide early intervention, prevent crises, and are community focused.

"We will achieve this in partnership with people with learning disabilities, who are the experts in their own lives. An accompanying delivery plan has been developed, containing specific actions with timelines for each commitment,” adding that the plan will be “updated” to “reflect changes in priorities and circumstances as they arise”.

The strategy is available to read here.