DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on
Scott Watkin named
as the Department of Health's new Co-National Director for
Learning Disabilities
People with learning disabilities will gain a new champion in the
Department of Health from today following the appointment of Scott
Watkin as Co-National Director for Learning Disabilities.
Care Services Minister Phil Hope appointed Scott to lead work on
making the Department's learning disability strategy, Valuing
People Now, a reality. He will work jointly with Anne Williams,
the current National Director.
His role will also involve:
* Speaking on behalf of Government to organisations representing
people with learning disabilities and their families, public and
independent organisations delivering services and voluntary and
lobby groups.
* Representing to Government the views of all people with
learning disabilities, including those from BME groups, so that
the development of Government policy is based on what people with
learning disabilities want and need.
* Taking a particular lead in work to develop strong and
effective advocacy - as described in Valuing People Now
* Supporting work to strengthen links between the self advocacy
movement and family carer groups, locally, regionally and nationally
* Jointly chairing the stakeholder pre-meetings of the
cross-Government Learning Disability Programme Board, helping to
make sure that it is an effective and representative voice of the
learning disability field to government and the public.
Scott Watkin said:
"As Co-National Director I would like to see that the lives
of people with a learning disability change for the better, and
that we deliver services in a more personalised way. I also would
like to see that people with a learning disability have the same
rights and equal opportunities as everyone else. They should be
included in the community.
"We should also make sure people in the ethnic and minority
community do not get discriminated against, and have the same
rights and opportunities as everyone else.
"I am looking forward to being part of the team, and the new
challenges ahead in delivering Valuing People Now. I hope that we
can make the lives of people with a learning disability change for
the better."
Care Services Minister, Phil Hope said:
"I'm delighted Scott will be joining the team here at
the Department of Health.
"Scott's skills and experience will be a great asset to
the Department and with his help we will make sure that people
with learning disabilities have a strong voice to influence
policymaking at senior Government level. I'm confident he
will help us make the vision set out in 'Valuing People
Now' a reality for everyone with learning disabilities and
their families."
Scott is 27 and lives with his wife on the Isle of Wight. He is a
Special Olympian, winning medals at the Special Olympic Games for
the 200 metres and the standing long jump.
Prior to taking up this post, Scott co-chaired the Isle of Wight
Learning Disability Partnership Board, where he played a key role
in restructuring the board in anticipation of Valuing People Now
and the increased personalisation of services.
Scott was also Vice Chair for the Isle of Wight Gateway Club
which provides leisure activities for people with learning
disabilities at evening and weekends. He has also volunteered on a
programme to provide work-related services for people with
learning disabilities.
Notes to Editors
The Co-National Director position was created in 2006 to provide
joint national leadership around the delivery of Government's
original learning disability white paper, Valuing People. This was
the first ever senior Government post specifically for a person
with learning disabilities, and as the first Co-National Director,
Nicola Smith made an excellent contribution to the implementation
of Valuing People, raising the profile of both the policy and the
issues for people with learning disabilities nationally.
Scott Watkin will take up his post on 12th May 2009, for a period
of three years.
Valuing People Now: A New Three Year strategy for people with
learning disabilities was published on 19th January 2009 by the
Department of Health.