We have developed a strategy for the development of services to support people with physical and/or sensory impairments.

The strategy was informed by a number of consultation events in 2007/08, which brought disabled people, carers and service providers together to share thoughts and ideas about current services and identify where things could be done differently in the future.

Why do we need a strategy?

People with long-term or more complex health and social care needs want services that will help them to maintain their independence and well-being, and to lead as fulfilling a life as possible. Government policy has set a vision and aims for adult social care and wider services to facilitate this.

Strategy

The strategy was submitted to the Executive Member for Housing and Adult Social Services Advisory Panel meeting 8th December 2008, where it was accepted and endorsed.  You can download an Executive Summary and/or the whole strategy document from this page.  The strategy includes the first draft of an action/work plan at Chapter 7.

Summary of recommendations for improvement

Access and Services

The consultation raised the following areas for improvement and development:

• provision of information in all required formats to enable informed choices to be made
• a broad provision of services to help people remain independent
• self-directed care and support when independence is at risk
• access to a greater variety of community facilities and vocational support
• involvement and participation in both individual and community service design
• availability of adapted housing and appropriate support

Infrastructure to support planning and participation

If services to support disabled people are to develop there needs to be some strengthening of the local infrastructure to ensure broad participation and inclusion in considering the redesign of provision.  This infrastructure should include:

• a network or forum for disabled people in York
• a user led Centre for Independent Living (CIL) to co-ordinate the information and support disabled people to maintain their independence and quality of life

CILs are grassroots organisations run and controlled by disabled people.  Their aims are to assist disabled people to take control over their lives and achieve full participation in society.

So what do CILs do?

• Support people with Direct Payments, advice on employment and payroll services
• Information services
• Advice services
• Advocacy - including self-advocacy and group advocacy/involvement t in changing services
• Community development - supporting disabled people's groups
• Peer support - mentoring or peer counselling services
• Interpreting and transcription services - e.g. British Sign Language, Audio, Braille, easy words and pictures
• Disability Equality Training - including 'Train the trainer'

Recommendation 4.3 of Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People 2005 states that each locality should have a user-led organisation modelled on existing Centres for Independent Living by 2010.

• formal partnership arrangements involving the statutory services, voluntary organisations and representatives of disabled people to oversee the implementation of the strategy and for achieving specific outcomes.

Summary of progress

• The Social Inclusion Working Group started work in March 2008 to bring disabled people together to discuss working together in the city, this work is on going.
• In February 2009, Housing and Adult Social Services provided funding to enable York Council for Voluntary Services to facilitate the development of a user led organisation, this work is in the early stages.
• In February 2009, Housing and Adult Social Services hosted a meeting to cover a number of process issues as well as looking at what a Partnership Board might be able to achieve in the immediate future, the next meeting will be in April 2009.

If you are a disabled person and would like to get involved with the development of services to support people with a physical and/or sensory impairment please contact Jenny Gardner on (01904) 554354 or email jenny.gardner@york.gov.uk

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