BBC EXPOSURE OF ABUSE LEADS TO KEY IMPROVEMENTS IN HUMAN RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Adults and children with learning disabilities and autism now have the protection of national guidelines when they are restrained, following the landmark BBC Macintyre Undercover programme in 1999 showing abuse by staff in a care home in Kent.

Physical interventions, or restraint, is used as a last resort by staff when a person is in danger of injuring themselves or other people.

“The MacIntyre Undercover programme was a shocking demonstration of how physical interventions can lead to abuse when it’s used inappropriately,” said John Harris, chief executive of BILD, the British Institute of Learning Disabilities.

As a result of the programme, the previously taboo topic of physical interventions became a key area of concern. BILD worked with the government and other voluntary organisations to raise standards, with new policies and a national code of practice on staff training.

Since 1996 BILD has published policy guidelines, a code of practice on training and a guide for people with learning disabilities. BILD’s most recent work is a
scheme to accredit high quality training on the use of physical interventions.

Notes

1. BILD has worked with the Department of Health and the Department for Education and Skills to improve good practice and standards in physical interventions for people with a learning disability since 1996.
2. BILD’s latest initiative is a national accreditation scheme for trainers of physical interventions.

For more information

John Harris, Sharon Powell,
BILD Chief Executive BILD physical interventions manager
Tel: 01562 723010 Tel: 01562 723026

British Institute of Learning Disabilities, Campion House, Green Street, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 1JL Reg. Charity No. 1019663