Ending loneliness and cruelty for people with learning disabilities

A report authored by Carwyn Gravell and published by Lemos & Crane into loneliness and cruelty suffered by people with learning disabilities has been welcomed by the Care Quality Commission.

Dame Jo Williams, Chair of the Care Quality Commission said:

"I welcome Lemos&Crane’s report Loneliness and Cruelty. It is a lucid, jargon-free account of ordinary lives disrupted by heartless exploitation and cruelty. It reminds us of the importance of ensuring that people with learning disabilities have informal as well as professional support within neighbourhoods and communities – and how important friends, families and neighbours are in keeping people safe. We shall certainly reflect the report’s findings in our approach to CQC’s inspections going forward.”

The report advises that social workers must support people with learning disabilities to develop friendships, confidence and personal interests to protect them against the loneliness and cruelty that often characterises their lives.

Carwyn Gravell, Lemos and Crane said:

“My report, Loneliness and Cruelty, based on in-depth interviews with frontline practitioners across the country, shows that people with mild or moderate learning disabilities living independently in the community experience a disturbing range of abuse and harassment and related crime with alarming frequency.

The perpetrators in the main are local people and neighbours, often young people and school-children. Incidents happen when people are out and about, but also in and around their homes. These incidents - ranging from name-calling and taunting to financial abuse, assault and attacks on property - above all else can be characterised by cruelty.”

The report, which suggests that as many as one in four people with learning disabilities said they had no friends, is available to download here. The report outlines key roles that Social workers, social care practitioners, and colleagues in supported housing must play in order create friendship development opportunities and self confidence for people with learning disabilities.