Ending Institutional Care

On 2nd July 2026 the Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) Commissioners Network, Self-Directed Support (SDS) Network and Citizen Network hosted Ending Institutional Care — a one-day national conference bringing together commissioners and partners to explore what it really takes to reduce, and ultimately end, the use of institutional settings.

The focus was on:

• Real-world solutions
• Lived experience leadership
• Commissioning approaches that work
• Learning you can apply immediately

Every session was designed to contribute to one central question: How do we end institutional care?

Speakers included representatives from:


Catalyst Care Group • I Direct Independent Living • Just Checking • Golden Lane Housing • Elemental Health & Care • West Midlands ADASS • Self Directed Futures • SDS Network England • Citizen Network

And Jake Banbury, Co-Chair of the Learning Disability and Autism Commissioners Network was our Conference Chair.

We were also delighted to have the support of our conference sponsors:

Abilia | ARC England | Beyond Thrive | Bild (British Institute of Learning Disabilities) | Catalyst Care Group | CareMatch | Learning Disability England (LDE) | PPL: People Places Lives | Red Press | SDS Network | Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) | VODG (Voluntary Organisations Disability Group)

During the day, and using a World Café format, we organised ourselves into multiple groups to share experiences and generate solutions – you can read and download our World Café report (pdf) here.

Speaker Presentations:

Simon Duffy, Citizen Network: How we got into this mess — why we seem unable to end institutional care.

Chris Watson, Self Directed Futures and Ashleigh Fox, Catalyst Care Group: How can we get to a place where we don't commission any institutions

Nikki Henderson, Elemental Health & Care and Catherine Nolan, West Midlands ADASS: Support Circles as a solution to unlocking hospital discharge

Benjamin Andrew, Catalyst Care Group: Real life stories - innovative approaches to avoiding hospital admission

Emily Collinson, Golden Lane Housing and Clare Skidmore, Learning Disability and Autism Housing Coalition: Increasing housing options in our communities - what are the sector challenges and the commissioning opportunities

Vinesh Kumar, I Direct Independent Living: The conditions for an rdinary life: What to commission, what to look for

Amy Lewis, Just Checking: Innovative technology in housing and support, where technology genuinely adds value and where it does not

Photographs

A small selection of photos capturing the spirit of the day.

Thanks to everyone who joined us on the day — we hope you found it as inspiring as we did!

Find out more about the Learning Disability and Autism Commissioners Network here.

Stay in touch — if you'd like a chat about the event, future events or have any other questions please send us an email.

The publisher is Citizen Network. Ending Institutional Care © Citizen Network 2026.