RESIDENTIAL PROVISION FOR PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN ENGLAND, WALES AND SCOTLAND

The nature and extent of residential provision for people with intelle ctual disabilities in 1991 in England, Scotland and Wales is described . In summary, the data from the OPCS Census suggest that: (1) there ex isted substantial regional and national variation in the extent of res idential provision for people with intellectual disabilities in Englan d, Scotland and Wales; (2) overall, the level of provision was signifi cantly lower than Department of Health targets for 1991 of 1.55 places per 1000 of the adult population; (3) the majority of people with int ellectual disabilities were living in relatively large-scale congregat e care settings; (4) the majority of residents were younger and middle -aged adults, although a significant minority were either late adolesc ents or very elderly; (5) young black men were significantly more like ly to be placed in residential provision than their peers from other e thnic groups; (6) young Asian men, young Chinese/Other men and young A sian women were significantly less likely to be placed in residential provision than their peers from other ethnic groups; (7) rates of empl oyment and marriage among residents were markedly lower than for the g eneral population. The results are discussed in relation to national p olicy aims and existing and future demand for residential provision.