This will fund bespoke support, home adaptations, equipment and technology to enable people to return to their communities rather than spending longer periods in hospital or living in supported accommodation.

Tom Arthur, minister for social care and mental wellbeing, said: ‘Every day spent unnecessarily in hospital is time away from someone's community, family and friends. We cannot allow people to spend longer in hospital than they need to or to stay far from home just because they have more intensive support needs.

‘We are beginning to see progress. The latest data shows that fewer people are delayed in hospital or placed in care settings far from home – but there is more to do.'

Cllr Paul Kelly, COSLA spokesperson for health and social care, said: ‘We have worked closely with the Scottish Government, local government, integration authorities, the NHS and third sector partners to develop the action plan and set out how we will jointly address these long-standing issues. I am grateful for the significant commitment and time that all partners have invested in producing the plan, which is published today. We now need to maintain that drive and collective focus as we move into delivery.

‘Sustained, additional investment across the whole system will be crucial to ensuring that people with learning disabilities and complex needs can return home as quickly as possible.'

Dr Anne MacDonald, chair of the Coming Home Short Life Working Group, said: ‘I'd like to thank colleagues across the sector for all their input to developing this Action Plan, which we hope will make a real difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and complex support needs.

‘The action plan is focused on changes that will support people to live well in their local communities, to have choice and control about where they live, and to have their human rights upheld.'