The Commission undertook a themed visit to all learning disability in-patient units during the 2007-08 visiting programme. The Commission visited 39 facilities across Scotland from 25 October to 7 November 2007. Prior to the visits, health boards were asked to provide some information about the wards in their areas.
Staff were asked a series of questions about the people living in the ward on the day of the visit and about how care and treatment was provided. Commission staff met with individual patients and some relatives and carers.
The Commission was particularly interested in seeing how assessment of individual need was taking place and the ways identified needs were being met. Commission staff also looked for evidence within files that would indicate how individual people and carers were being involved in decisions about current and future care.