News

We are excited to announce the launch of the North London Forensic Collaborative (NLFC) Learning Disability & Autism Strategy, a comprehensive plan designed to transform care and support for people with learning disabilities and autism across North London. This new strategy will address the needs of people who use forensic services, focusing on enhancing access to care, improving outcomes, and providing a more inclusive experience.

The strategy is a response to long-standing national concerns about the inadequate provision of care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people in forensic settings. Historically, this group has faced inequalities in accessing services, experiencing poor outcomes, and dealing with a lack of appropriate support. As a result, many people have been left underserved and their potential limited.

At NLFC, we believe that people with learning disabilities and autistic people deserve to live as independently as possible, within their own communities. Our goal is to help these individuals achieve their full potential, ensuring they receive care that respects their unique needs and promotes autonomy.

Key Commitments of the Strategy:
The Learning Disability & Autism Strategy outlines a number of important commitments, ensuring that the people who use our forensic services are involved in every stage of care – from commissioning to service development and evaluation. We are committed to creating a care environment where individuals, their families, and carers are central to decision-making processes.

The strategy also reflects a commitment to local, community-based care, ensuring that services are responsive, compassionate, trauma-informed, and focused on promoting recovery. It outlines six key priority areas for service and quality improvement that NLFC will focus on over the next three years, including:

• Delivering high-quality care that is responsive to local needs.
• Encouraging independence and promoting recovery for individuals.
• Ensuring services are integrated with community support networks.
• Creating safe, secure, and effective care pathways.
• Empowering individuals through the inclusion of their voices in service design.
• Reducing the need for inpatient services by shifting care closer to home.

A Collaborative Approach to Care
The strategy has been developed with input from a wide range of stakeholders, including people with lived experience of learning disabilities and autism, carers, frontline staff, and local healthcare partners. This collaborative approach ensures that the strategy is fully informed by the people who matter most – those who use the services.

NLFC is committed to working closely with the three Integrated Care Systems (ICS) within North London and will continue to adapt the strategy to meet local and national priorities, including any changes in legislation.

The Future of Forensic Services in North London
Our strategy builds on the NHS England guidance and aligns with the NHS Long Term Plan to improve inpatient care. It seeks to reduce out-of-area placements, ensure the delivery of care closer to home, and enhance clinical oversight. By shifting resources away from inpatient settings and towards community-based care, we aim to improve the quality of life for individuals with learning disabilities and autism.

As we look to the future, the NLFC Learning Disability & Autism Strategy will be responsive to evolving needs, ensuring that the highest standards of care are delivered throughout the journey of care – from referral to discharge and beyond.

We are proud to take this step forward in improving services for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, and we are grateful to all those who have contributed to the development of this important strategy.

Click here to read the  full strategy  and the  easy read version.