The introduction of a national register of people with complex learning disabilities who are at risk of being kept in inappropriate care settings has been confirmed by the social care minister.

Kevin Stewart said a report setting out the plan, which was originally set to be published last summer, would be published “in the next few weeks”.

The aim of the register is to facilitate a shift towards community care by increasing visibility of this group, who require specialist support.

It follows a warning by the charity Enable Scotland of a “human rights scandal” that has seen more than 1,000 adults with learning disabilities living in ‘out of area’ placements away from their families.

Another 67 are living in hospitals, 10% of whom have been there for more than 10 years.

Jan Savage, director of Enable, called for a “Community First” principle and the end of out of area placements, alongside investment in specialist social care services across the country.

The charity, which supports 6,000 people across the country, says the situation has worsened since a 2018 government report called for more consistent community support. Enable says a lack of detailed data on people with learning disabilities and complex support needs has led to people being ‘lost or stuck in a system with no impetus to move’.

In its report, Enable called for the Scottish government and COSLA to collate and maintain a register of ‘all people who are: a) in delayed discharge; b) out of area and who do not want to be; and c) at risk of placement breakdown.’

‘At local level, this register must inform local commissioning and planning practice. At national level, it must be monitored to ensure accountability around a reduction in the number of people in this position.’

A short life working group report containing recommendations on moving people out of inappropriate long-term delayed discharge arrangements has been delayed since last summer.

Government documents seen by healthandcare.scot suggested there were more than 200 people with “very complex” needs either stuck in hospital or in placements far away from their homes. One report admitted individuals can be “lost in the system” as in some circumstances “care placements are not revisited or reviewed regularly”.

Speaking in the Scottish parliament on Tuesday, Social Care Minister Kevin Stewart said the report would “directly address” Enable Scotland’s concerns, including through a national register and national panel.

Concerns were raised by Labour MSP Paul O’Kane that a £20m community living change fund to kickstart a shift away from institutional care announced earlier this year “is not a lot of money per Health and Social Care Partnership area, per person”.

Mr Stewart said he would keep a “close eye” on local areas’ use of the fund and suggested the government would “will have to look at further resourcing”.

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