Learning Disabilities, Autism and Preparation for Adulthood
Demographics
In 2025, the number of adults with a learning disability was 5023 (as per table below). The number of all age adults with a learning disability is predicted to reach 5161 by 2030, an increase of 138 people, representing 2.4% of Rotherham’s predicted adult population of 214,500 (18 to 64 population was 159,800. 65+ population 54,700). Based on PANSI and POPPI data.
|
Total population aged 18+ predicted to have a learning disability (all age) |
2025 |
2030 |
2035 |
2040 |
2045 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Baseline |
5,023 |
5,161 |
5,285 |
5,407 |
5484 |
|
Moderate or severe learning disability |
1038 |
1,065 |
1,087 |
1,109 |
1,122 |
|
Severe learning disability (65 plus data not available) |
234 |
239 |
242 |
246 |
250 |
|
Living with a parent (65 plus data not available) |
320 |
331 |
338 |
343 |
341 |
|
Have Down's syndrome |
110 |
113 |
115 |
119 |
119 |
|
Display challenging behaviour (65 plus data not available) |
16 |
16 |
14 |
14 |
16 |
In 2026, the number of Rotherham adults, with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is 2104 representing 0.9809% of Rotherham’s adult population of 214,500 (18 to 64 population was 159,800. 65+ population 54,700). The overall number of people with autism will increase to by 10% to 235,100 by 2045. Based on PANSI and POPPI data.
|
Total population aged 18+ predicted to have Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) |
2025 |
2030 |
2035 |
2040 |
2045 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Total population aged 18-64 predicted to have autistic spectrum disorders |
1,586 |
1,607 |
1,623 |
1,668 |
1,716 |
|
Total population aged 65 and over predicted to have autistic spectrum disorders |
518 |
555 |
590 |
601 |
595 |
|
Total |
2104 |
2162 |
2213 |
2269 |
2311 |
Support needs
There are approximately 802 people with a primary need of a learning disability receiving a service (May 2026). Based on ONS predictions, this number will continue to increase, however the demographic of people receiving support will change. There will be a greater increase in young people with a learning disability (aged 18-24), middle aged people (aged 35-49), and older adults 80-84 over the next 20 years.
The Council will also have a focus on adults with learning disabilities who are living at home with elderly parents, this will support their being suitable settled accommodation is in place for the person as their parents age.
Key Messages for the Market
Both the learning disability and autism offer has begun to transform following the creation and the release of the All Age - Autism Strategy and the Learning Disability Strategy. Both were co-produced with Rotherham people. The aim is for all autistic people and people with a learning disability to live a full and rich life, and access opportunities that promote independence.
Locally the Learning Disability strategy builds on the principles of Building the Right Support and focuses on quality provision that supports people on their individual progression pathway towards greater independence. It covers 6 main priorities:
Provide accessible information and advice to support making informed choices.
- Strengthen the voice of the person.
- Support young people with care and support needs to prepare for adulthood (in line with the Adult Social Care strategy).
- Provide needs led support.
- Provide more opportunities for care and support closer to home.
- Provide more meaningful opportunities.
The Council’s All Age Autism Strategy (2024-27), based on national guidance, builds on the previous 2020-24 strategy and focuses on 4 main areas in a coproduction approach:
- Support young people with care and support needs to prepare for adulthood.
- Tackling health and care inequalities for autistic people and provide more opportunities for care and support closer to home.
- Provide accessible information and advice to support making informed choices
- Provide needs led support.
- The Council is adopting the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach to commissioning. Both strategies give a clear steer that people with a learning disability and autistic people want services which are connected to their communities and are strength-based. The Council is keen to work with providers with a similar outlook. The Council’s Flexible Purchasing Systems for Supported Living and Community Opportunities embeds this in practice.
- All providers who wish to develop supported living in Rotherham must:
- a. Apply and join the Council’s Flexible Purchasing System for supported living.
- b. Ensure that they have an RSL who is compliant with the social housing regulator.
- Key drivers in the development of services for people with learning disabilities and autism nationally are identified in the national plan - Building the Right Support (2015) and Building the Right Home (2016). Following on from the Winterbourne View scandal, BRS advocated that people should be supported in ‘homes not hospital’ and secondly that in the community people should be supported in the least restrictive setting and by the least restrictive model of support. The ethos of BRS (2015) around reducing numbers in hospital settings has embedded a very person centred, outcome focused, progression approach within both the Learning Disability and Autism commissioning that is evident in the two strategies. The Council wishes to build on this further and develop services that meet the changing expectations of individual adults and their families.
- The Council wishes to work with developers and support providers to develop appropriate community accommodation to support people in the least restrictive settings. Assistive technology has many possible applications within this field, and we are keen to develop these.
- Local demand has identified that, on average, the Borough will require 12 new supported living units each year over the next 10 years (source: South Yorkshire Housing Market Positioning Statement 2022). In addition, the Council commissions a range of accommodation and support options such as Shared Lives and outreach into people’s homes, and the Council is looking to develop these and other options such as Extra Care Housing to reduce the numbers in residential settings both in and out of area.
- The Council encourages new shared lives carers to register and to utilise shared lives as an alternative to residential care and bed-based respite.
- The Council aims to have a clear offer of the services that are available for young people transitioning to adult services with complex needs.
- The Council is keen to expand and increase timely planning for the provision of services and accommodation for the preparing for adulthood cohort. This aim will ensure that future support is ready for when a person reaches 18 years of age and that the move to adult provisions are smooth, effective transitions for all.
- All day opportunities should promote social inclusion and social value with a focus on utilising micro and social enterprises to support people to access opportunities in their community. Where appropriate opportunities for work like or work based opportunities are welcomed. A Flexible Purchase System for Community Opportunities and alternative respite is currently in place.
Learning Disability / Autism Accommodation Based Services
| Service Type | Brief Summary of Current Service(s) | Capacity and Direction of Travel | Commissioning Intentions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist Learning Disability Residential and Nursing Care | There are 37 care homes that provide specialist support for adults with a learning disability, autism, mental ill-health or a combination of these. This includes the Council’s in-house residential care homes. |
37 care homes (maximum 367 beds) Maintain and remodel supply. |
The Council will explore whether a reposition of residential and nursing services may be needed to expand the suitability for certain cohorts e.g., young people with complex needs accessing temporary care and specialist dementia care for adults with learning disabilities who suffer from early onset dementia. Providers of residential care may wish to consider a change in registration to expand their registration to additional client groups or to deregister and provide supported living services. Proactive engagement with the Council is encouraged. The Council encourages providers to adopt a standardised breakdown of the cost of care: agreed core costs for placements and hourly rates for individual 1:1, 2:1 etc. requirements. Providers should continue to build in day opportunities and maximise the use of assistive technology where appropriate to support greater independence. |
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|
Out of Borough LD Specialist Residential and Nursing Care |
These placements are made by choice of the adult or when no specialist provision is available in Borough. |
28 placements (14 as a result of no local/specialist provision).
|
The Council are looking to continue to actively reduce out of borough placements and increase the offer in borough to support adults to live closer to home/families. |
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|
Respite (residential) |
This is provided by an inhouse residential service (8 beds) and also utilises the independent residential sector (12 beds). In 2025/26 respite was utilised by approximately 100 adults, including those in emergency situations. |
20 beds. Over supply of traditional accommodation based respite |
The Council will continue to explore a range of alternatives to traditional residential respite care. A Community Opportunities flexible purchasing system has been developed to attract providers offering innovative respite options. This opportunity is open to applications at all times and can be accessed via the following link Public quote/tender - Community Opportunities: Flexible Purchasing Solution (FPS) Data also suggests that the future needs for younger cohorts moving through into adult services is likely to require alternatives to the traditional provisions and will include things like supported holidays. An increased shared lives offer will also be explored. |
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|
Extra Care Housing (ECH) |
The older people’s ECH offer is also available for adults with a learning disability (see Older People section) where they meet the age criteria, and/or this is the most appropriate environment. |
108 Older People units. Under supply. |
The Council is keen to identify opportunities for adults with Learning Disabilities and Autism within generic supported housing models. |
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|
Supported Living |
The delivery of care and support is via Rotherham’s flexible purchasing system (FPS) for supported living services. There are currently 40 providers appointed to the FPS which has more than tripled the choice of provider available to support adults in the Borough.
|
223 units. Maintain/Increase |
The Council intends to continue to increase the amount of supported living accommodation available throughout the Borough. Together with ensuring that all historical accommodation is fit for purpose and sourcing alternatives where needed. The preference will be for core and cluster models with independent accommodation and staff on site and bespoke accommodation where the need is identified for an individual. Assistive Technology options are seen as a requirement to promote independence and least restriction. The Council requires that all supported living properties fulfil the real tenancy test with a distinct separation between housing and support. The Registered Social Landlord (RSL) must be compliant with the Housing Regulator All providers appointed to the Flexible Purchasing System are able to bid for opportunities as they are advertised and also propose new opportunities for developments, provided that they have a compliant RSL onboard. The Council welcomes providers to join the FPS framework. Public quote/tender - Supported Living: Flexible Purchasing System |
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|
Shared Lives |
Shared Lives is a CQC registered inhouse service where adults with a learning disability and/or autism can spend time with approved shared lives carers and their families. There are a variety of placements and a mixture of support including:
|
Capacity – 128 units, supporting 81 adults. Increase capacity. |
The Council welcomes discussions for individuals to register as shared lives carers and for shared lives carers to have closer links to peer support networks. The Shared Lives, Accelerating Reform Fund will support a programme of work which will seek to deliver a step change in the support and scope of Shared Lives across South Yorkshire. The aims are to:
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Learning Disability Community Care Services
|
Service Type |
Brief Summary of Current Service(s) |
Capacity and Direction of Travel |
Commissioning Intentions |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Home Care and Support |
The Council and South Yorkshire ICB (Rotherham Place) operate a joint Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) arrangement. The FPS includes Specialist (LD and MH), and services which support unpaid carers are also included as separate lots. |
Capacity does not meet demand in this area. Increasing demand. |
The Council invites CQC registered specialist providers to apply for a place on its home care FPS |
|
Day Opportunities – building based |
The Council has continued to support the most complex adults with a learning disability some who require building based provision through its:
|
Approximately 131 adults. |
The Council moved away from traditional day opportunities of building-based day centres in 2019 but continue to commission services and opportunities that support social inclusion and promote social value. The Council’s in-house day services have undergone significant transformation to become a more creative community offer. The Council will continue to further strengthen the connections between adults with a learning disability and their local community. Further details can be found here Public quote/tender - Community Opportunities: Flexible Purchasing Solution (FPS) |
|
Day Opportunities – micro enterprises |
There are also alternative Day Opportunities available from multiple SME’s providing support to around 275 adults. Currently these are only available through a Direct Payment. The Council has focused on the development of micro and social enterprises, especially for adults with a learning disability and/or autism with a focus on Community Opportunities, with support to access employment and independence skills opportunities. |
|
The Council is keen to expand the amount and scope of micro enterprises. The Council has a Flexible Purchasing System for Community Opportunities which offers a choice of support to assist people to access their local community, to increase their independence skills, provide opportunity to gain work like experience and volunteering and support to seek paid employment. Further details can be found here Public quote/tender - Community Opportunities: Flexible Purchasing Solution (FPS) |
|
Peer Support network |
The Peer support networks are the final step towards independent living and often support a step down from traditional supported living settings. A local charity has been commissioned to provide peer support networks across Rotherham, The networks:
|
50 adults. Increase. |
The Council is keen to expand peer support networks across the whole of the Borough. This level of support will become part of the Supported Living FPS and the Community Opportunities FPS for future models |
|
Personal Budget (service) |
Adults buy their own services using the personal budget determined by their Care Act Assessment. |
Approximately 321 adults. |
The Council supports the use of direct payments and personal assistants where appropriate to promote more flexible and personalised solutions and strength-based approaches. |
|
Personal Budget (Personal Assistant) |
Adults employ a personal assistant to meet needs, following a care act assessment. |
Approximately 76 adults. |
