HF Mencap's History
HF MENCAP HISTORY OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES LIVING IN THE LONDON BOROUGH OF HAMMERSMITH AND FULHAM
EARLY DAYS
“Hammersmith Society for the mentally handicapped” formed by a group of parents.
Very little support from Health or Social Services – no Community Learning Disability Team.
The majority of Children and Adults with ‘Mental Handicaps’ (Learning Disabilities) did not live at home but were placed in Hospitals situated in the countryside miles from their families.
The families were rarely able to visit their Sons and Daughters.
Parents met informally to campaign for services for their children and adults
Gateway Clubs – social groups set up
HOSPITAL CLOSURES
From the 1980s onwards – Learning Disability hospitals closure programme began with development of community services and community care.
Community Learning Disability Teams established
Group Homes developed
TERMINOLOGY CHANGED
The term ’mentally handicapped’ was no longer acceptable as it was deemed derogatory and disrespectful
Replaced with ‘People with learning disabilities’
COMMUNITY SERVICES
Developed across UK - progress was made
However the changes went slowly
Mid 1990s majority of learning disability hospitals finally closed.
H&F ADVOCACY SERVICE SET UP
Funded by Royal Mencap and the LBHF council – with one part-time advocacy worker TERESA MCGINN
Office in Gayford Road, Shepherds Bush set up
Mainly providing advocacy/self advocacy and advice
THE ‘BEST VALUE’ REVIEW OF SERVICES
Conference led by 10 people with learning disabilities (supported by H&F Advocacy) where 250 people attended
Service users were empowered and made a Film ‘This is my life’
Local Commissioners were impressed and funded three new advocacy posts
SAFETY NET PEOPLE FIRST SET UP
A Self Advocacy group for People with Learning Disabilities
To ‘catch the issues that managers missed”
We Won the Guardian Award for service user participation in review of services
VALUING PEOPLE WHITE PAPER PUBLISHED
The most significant government guidance for services for people with learning disabilities.
The Paper emphasised the principles of rights, independence, choice and inclusion
Valuing People a new strategy for people with learning disabilities in the 21st century
The Valuing People team regularly consulted with H&F Service users
FUNKY NITE NIGHT CLUB SET UP
Monthly Night club pioneering and ground breaking
People trained as DJ’s
People attended from all over London
Other similar clubs set up across London
ONGOING FUNDING AGREED
The local authority agreed to part fund the Advocacy Service
Hammersmith & Fulham Mencap took on the host responsibility for the service.
TERESA MCGINN appointed as Director
The initial trustees were all parents of people with learning disabilities and several were original members from 1964!
PARENTSACTIVE SET UP
Parents of disabled children approached Mencap asking for support to set up a parents group and forum.
MENTAL CAPACITY ACT
People have the right to make their own decisions if they have the capacity to do so
MENCAP DEATH BY INDIFFERENCE
Exposed the fatal consequences of inequalities in NHS healthcare for People with Learning Disabilities
PARENTS/CARERS ADVOCACY SET UP
With feedback from parents from the Parentsactive group and local pressures, a new role was created.
MOVED OFFICES TO STAMFORD BROOK CENTRE
Lots of new developments
Person Centred Planning Co-ordinator,
Peer Advocacy Project,
Advocacy for People with Profound and Multiple Learning Disabilities (PMLD)
Early Support Keyworker
Inclusive Play Coordinator
VALUING PEOPLE NOW PUBLISHED
Department of Health reiterated values and urged more rapid implementation of the Proposals for change
WINTERBOURNE VIEW SCANDAL
BBC Panorama exposed awful mistreatment and systemic abuse of People with learning disabilities on Assessment and Treatment in-patient units
MOVED OFFICES TO ASPENLEA ROAD
New developments
Safety Net Youth set up
MYLIFE: OUT AND ABOUT SET UP
A community based service that offers support for adults with a learning disability to access a wide range of activities of their choice within the community as well as in the Centre. People pay for the service using their personal budget provided by their Local Authority which enables them to choose what service they wish to use
TRANSFORMING CARE PROGRAMME
Improving health and care services to ensure that all people can live in the community with the right support
Building the right support published.
PATIENT EXPERIENCE NETWORK NATIONAL AWARDS
HF Mencap winner of the Patient Experience award for My Health My Say project in collaboration with Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust and the Rix Centre
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SET UP
To provide support to young people (aged between 13 and 25 years) to be involved in a positive transition from children to adulthood
MENCAP TREAT ME WELL CAMPAIGN
Treat me well – simple reasonable adjustments make a big difference
A campaign to transform the way the NHS treats patients with learning disabilities
YOUNG PEOPLE’S TRANSITION PROJECT SET UP
To provide support to young people with learning disabilities and mental health difficulties in transitioning from children’s services to adult services
THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
Impacted on HF Mencap (as well as every other part of society)
We had to develop creative ways to continue to deliver all of our services
FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY ADVOCACY ENDED
Two in house Advocates left due to funding termination.
The Advocacy Project (TAP) was funded for Care Act Advocacy in LBHF.
MOVED TO ADDISON GARDENS
Moved HF Mencap's operations to Addison Primary School With the centres entrance on Bolingbroke Road
AND INTO THE FUTURE
HF MENCAP will continue to rise to the challenge to support adults with learning disabilities, disabled children and parents/carers.
