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Enable hosted a delegation of social care and disability professionals from the Czech Republic during a four-day study visit to Scotland, focused on improving support for young adults with additional needs as they transition into adulthood.
Date published
16 June 2026
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The visit, which took place from 25–28 May, was funded by the Abakus Foundation, one of the Czech Republic’s largest philanthropic organisations. It brought together representatives from several non-profit organisations, including Freya, MIKASA z.s., PFERDA, NAUTIS Sheltered Housing Service, Péče bez překážek (Care Without Obstacles), ALKA O.P.S., ALPA South Bohemia and the Czech Fundraising Centre.
As part of the programme, delegates visited Enable’s Inspire House on 27 May. They learned about Scotland’s Coming Home agenda, Positive Behaviour Support and Enable’s approach to personalised support through its award-winning PA model, community inclusion and helping people to move from hospital and institutional settings into community living.
The session was led by Tracey Gilchrist, Head of Practice Development at Enable, alongside contributions from Caroline Shaw, Head of Complex Needs at The Richmond Fellowship Scotland, and Tracey Francis, Policy and Development Worker at ARK Scotland.
The programme opened with a session on Coming Home and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS), delivered by Caroline Shaw, which explored the impact of the Scottish Government’s 2018 Coming Home report. The report highlighted the need to support people with learning disabilities and complex needs to live in their communities rather than hospital settings. Discussions also focused on ongoing work to develop a national PBS Community of Practice and strengthen person-centred approaches. Enable work focuses on making the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (#UNCRPD) a reality in Scotland, especially in relation to Article 19 - living independently and being included in the community.
Delegates later examined a complex hospital discharge case study, exploring the practical challenges and collaborative approaches required to support people transitioning into community living.
The visit also showcased Enable’s three areas of activity, Enable Cares, Enable Works and Enable Communities, along with its award-winning Personal Assistant (PA) Model, which supports people to live more independently.
Tracey Gilchrist said: "The study visit was a fantastic opportunity to showcase work being undertaken in Scotland around the Coming Home agenda and Positive Behaviour Support. The delegates were engaged and there was a shared commitment to improving outcomes for the people we support. We shared our knowledge and practice and also gained valuable insights from our visitors.”
Jan Palaček of Tudytam, a representative from the Czech delegation said: "At Enable, we received a very warm welcome and heard inspiring presentations from dedicated people about the work of Enable and Richmond Fellowship at both the systemic and practical levels. I am taking away valuable insights for my work on social care reform in the Czech Republic - particularly in relation to the Coming Home policy and the PA model - as well as for my work as a Positive Behaviour Support consultant.”