Estimating the number of people with learning disabilities in 'out-of-area' residential placements

Out of area placement of people with intellectual disabilities is a potentially

problematic practice. Few data exist on the scale of out of area placement. Every

care home in a large English county was surveyed to find the number of people placed

by other authorities. Information was cross-checked by asking three placing

authorities for information about everyone they had placed in residential care in the

county. The survey identified 759 people placed by other authorities in homes in the

county. Cross-checking suggested that only about half to two thirds of placements

were being identified. Residents included all age groups, a disproportionate number

of men and were mainly placed for long-term care. Between 30 and 54 per cent had

not been contacted by their care manager for at least a year. It seems likely that

between 1,000 and 1,400 people were placed by other authorities in this county,

occupying 30 to 40 per cent of all residential placements. This figure does not

include placement in health facilities or ‘supporting people’ placements. The number

of people placed by other authorities seems likely to pose a considerable extra

demand for health and social care services.