Independent living

1.1 User-led Organisations project
1.2 Improving Disability Employment & Adviser Services (IDEAS)
1.3 Aiming High for Disabled Children
1.4 Independent Living Strategy
1.5 Reform of the Care and Support System
1.6 Getting a Life project
1.7 Individual budgets and employment

1.1 User-led Organisations project (this project has now been merged with Independent Living Strategy Project)

Work with the Department of Health to support their project to establish User Led Organisations, based on Centres for Inclusive/Independent Living in every Local Authority area by 2010. (Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People report – Recommendation 4.3)

Outcome: A network of user led organisations is established to support disabled people and which Equality 2025 can access to enhance their public engagement work.

Why: This project is about implementing recommendation 4.3 in the 2005 Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People report and is very important to disabled people because its successful outcome (effective User-Led Organisations throughout England) will have a huge impact on the way in which services are delivered and monitored at local level.

How: Advice to government will be given via members’ interaction with the Ministers involved in this work, including the Minister for Social Care. We will bring up to date information to disabled people through our public engagement meetings and feedback to key Ministers and civil servants through advice notes and more informal methods as this work progresses. We are also already engaged in key organisations, for example the National Centre for Independent Living, and with other pieces of work that cross-cut into this project (for example, the Independent Living Strategy).

Timescale: Throughout the year, then ongoing, until 2010.

1.2 Improving Disability Employment & Adviser Services (IDEAS)

Work with the Department for Work and Pensions and contribute to their work to introduce improvements to the work-focused services available for disabled people to find, enter, and progress in employment.

Outcome: A more responsive service that recognises the needs of individual disabled people.

Why: Disabled people have said very clearly that current employment support does not always meet their needs.

How: We will work with officials from the Department for Work and Pensions to provide strategic advice, based on the views and direct experience of disabled people. In particular we will discuss the response to the recent consultation with officials and advise on the impact of the proposed policies.

Timescale: Ongoing, initially until the proposed new programme is introduced (October 2009).

1.3 Aiming High for Disabled Children

Work with the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and the Department of Health, on implementing the programme to improve services for young disabled people.

Outcome: A more effective and equality-based experience of the services available to young disabled people than currently exists.

Why: It is vital that the views of disabled children and young people are heard during this project. Equality 2025 is in a unique position to give advice based on these views in the early stages of project planning.  

How: Support and advise on the implementation of this Department for Children, Schools and Families / Department of Health programme through membership of the Ministerial Implementation Group and effective engagement with young disabled people, particularly on the issue of “short break” care. We will advise on the most effective ways of implementing the proposals in the various areas of the Aiming High initiative, and give rounded, informed advice based on the views of those who have first hand experience as service users.

Timescale: Throughout the year, then ongoing (“Aiming High for Disabled Children” is a three year project’).

1.4 Independent Living Strategy

Working with the Office for Disability Issues on:

a) The consultation that is taking place with disabled people between 03 March 08 and 20 June 08 on how to implement and measure progress

and:

b) Involving Equality 2025 in the long term measurement and monitoring of progress towards independent living for disabled people, through membership of the Independent Living Scrutiny Group.

Outcome: Effective relationship with the Office for Disability Issues-led strategy implementation group, leading to improved implementation and tangible improvements in the lives of disabled people.

Why: The Independent Living strategy is based on a review undertaken during 2007. If implemented effectively, it will have a significant impact on the lives of many thousands of disabled people, including older people needing support services for the first time.

How: Equality 2025 will engage with disabled people to obtain relevant information which it will pass to the Strategy Implementation Group to improve the longer term implementation and monitoring of the strategy. It will also feed back progress to disabled people through communication channels and public engagement meetings.

Timescale:

a) Throughout the initial consultation period (03 March 08 – 20 June 08)

b) Throughout the year, then ongoing. (The implementation of the strategy will continue long-term.)

1.5 Reform of the Care and Support System

The Government believes that a radical rethink is required of the way the state supports people to gain and retain their independence. The Government intends to develop a reform strategy and set out a process involving extensive public engagement, ultimately leading to a Green Paper which identifies key issues and options for reform.

Outcome:  A reformed care and support system which is firmly rooted in the social model of disability and based on the principles of Independent Living.

Why: There is a clear opportunity to engage with this piece of work in its very early stages in order to influence the design of these initiatives and ensure that they result in better outcomes for disabled people.

How: Equality 2025 and the Department of Health will work together to ensure that disabled people are able to participate in this crucial debate of how to build a sustainable care and support system, and that the potential impact on disabled people's lives is fully understood. We will gain membership of relevant project groups and give verbal and written advice based on consultation with disabled people carried out through our regional meeting programme.

Timescale: Initially focused on the period of public engagement which will be starting in the spring, then focussing on work towards a Green Paper, identifying key issues and options for reform.

1.6 Getting a Life project

A cross-government project which seeks to pilot ways of getting employment, education and local authority day services functions for people with a learning disability to work together in an integrated manner. If successful, the project could make it easier for this group to recognise and achieve their learning and employment aspirations.

Outcome: That young people with learning difficulties going through transition can recognise and achieve their learning and employment aspirations.

Why: This project ties in with a number of Equality 2025’s strategic aims and is a key government initiative to improve transitional experience of young people.

How:  The project geographical pilot areas will be announced soon and Equality 2025 can add significant value to this project by working with other representative organisations, including the National Forum of People with Learning Disabilities, to advise government as the project develops.

Timescale: Throughout the lifetime of the pilot project (at least to the end of March 09).

1.7 Individual budgets and employment

Work with the Department for Work and Pensions to increase employment opportunities for disabled people through the effective use of the individual budget principle – a more joined-up package of support to give disabled people more choice and control over the way they are supported.

Outcome: The employment opportunities of disabled people are improved.

Why: Disabled people have regularly told us that effective Access to Work funding is vital to their employment opportunities. Changes in social care have resulted in many more disabled people receiving self-directed support, for example individual budgets. There is a clear need to further explore the potential relationship between the individual budget principle and employment.

How: The Department for Work and Pensions have asked Equality 2025 to work with them to develop initiatives to improve the employment opportunities of disabled people. We will feed into policy development and submit both verbal and written advice which reflects the views of disabled people. 

Timescale: The project will last 12 months, then be reviewed.

Page last reviewed: 03 November 2008