Care in the Community

They called it Care in the Community,
In the nineties it was rife;
We all jumped on the bandwagon
Promising patients a better life.

There were gurus that we followed,
And Government passed a law,
New careers opened up before us
As institutions closed their doors.

Soon, new jobs were created
As life for patients was rearranged,
Though none had been consulted,
Their circumstances changed.

They lost their home of many years
And everything they knew,
Under the banner of ‘improved’
And so the movement grew.

We followed a new set of rules,
Normalisation, it was key
As Wolfensburger specified,
The patients were just like you and me.

Goffman’s plan moved into action,
Institutions closed their doors
And 24 learning disabled adults
Relied on me to fight their cause.

A group of likeminded people
Came together in 4 teams
And by following Tizard’s example
The residents realised some dreams.

Normal living was our aim
No medical model planned.
And residents began to flourish
Their smiling faces, all on hand.

The moral of this story
Is embedded in the care
Respect for one another
And the ability to share.

The road, it wasn’t easy,
Some days were hard to bear,
But the ethos and our practice
Demonstrated real care.

Care in the Community
Challenged outmoded thought
And when rolled out in practice
Emphasised the need for some support.

When treated with respect
And aided to believe
Folk with learning disabilities
Can with certainty, achieve.