Delyth Jewell MS, Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health
People with learning disabilities have the right to live lives that are happy, healthy, and fulfilling, and to be listened to and heard. They have a right to play a full part in their communities as active and valued members of society.
In my Written Statement of 2 July, I announced three important measures to help achieve these ambitions and to strengthen learning disability services in Wales: publishing specialist inpatient data, developing an Integrated Quality Statement, and introducing a new three-year Learning Disability Transformation Programme.
We have now published two specialist learning disability inpatient data releases and today, I am pleased to launch the Learning Disability Transformation Programme 2026–2029 and to publish the Integrated Quality Statement for People with a Learning Disability. Together, they provide a clear national framework for improving services and supporting better outcomes for people with learning disabilities across Wales.
The Integrated Quality Statement sets out a clear vision for high-quality, person-centred and integrated health and social care. It emphasises the importance of organisations working together across health, social care, housing, education and the third sector to provide coordinated support that recognises and meets people's needs throughout their lives.
Developed through significant engagement with services and stakeholder partners, the Learning Disability Transformation Programme provides the practical roadmap for delivering this vision over the next three years. It builds on progress made through the Learning Disability Strategic Action Plan and responds to the evidence, experiences and recommendations arising from the Stolen Lives: From Hospitals to Homes work.
The Programme will focus on four connected workstream areas:
- improving data, information and advice;
- developing models of integrated community care;
- improving specialist inpatient services and pathways; and
- strengthening housing and accommodation support so that more people can live safely and well, as close to home as possible.
The Programme is built on the principles of prevention, early intervention and partnership working. It aims to ensure people receive the right support, at the right time and in the right place, while maintaining access to specialist inpatient care when needed. To achieve this, the Integrated Programme Board and its four workstreams will bring together partners from health, social care, the third sector, people with lived experience, and other key stakeholders to drive shared delivery and improvement.
It will also help partners prepare for forthcoming Mental Health Act reforms and support delivery of the Integrated Community Care System (ICCS) Blueprint for Wales.
Meaningful involvement and direct engagement will be central to the Programme. People with learning disabilities, families, carers and advocates will help shape and improve services, ensuring the focus remains on what matters most.
Building on existing good practice across Wales, the Programme will promote greater consistency, innovation and shared learning. Success will depend on strong leadership, collaboration and shared accountability at national, regional and local levels.
The launch of this programme and the publication of the Integrated Quality Statement marks an important move from ambition to action. Working alongside service providers, people with learning disabilities, families, carers and partners across Wales, we will create more responsive services, stronger community support and better opportunities for people to live fulfilling lives in the places they want to live and where they call home.