What, when and how?: The context for User-Led Organisations

Rich Watts Department of Health

January 2010

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Background

Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People.

Recommendation 4.3:

“By 2010, each locality (defined as that area covered by a Council with social services responsibilities) should have a User-led Organisation modelled on existing CILs (Centres for Independent Living)”.

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Wider policy context

A Stronger Local Voice Framework – Local Involvement Networks (LINks, 2006)

Independent Living Strategy (2008)

Carers Strategy (2008)

Social Care Green Paper (2009)

Right to Control (2009)

The key one: Putting People First – Transforming Adult Social Care (2007)

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ULOs and Personalisation

Putting People First: the key agenda A lot required of Local Authorities A lot of opportunities for ULOs

Information, advice and guidance; support, advocacy and brokerage People on Direct Payments / Personal Budgets Universal Services

Local Authorities commissioning personalisation work from ULOs

Performance and delivery benefits from working with ULOs

(ULOs engaged beyond social care)

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DH work on ULOs so far

Developed ULO Policy which sets out the values, organisational characteristics and services that underpin ULOs

These are the ULO Design Criteria

Commissioned ULO baseline research

Established ULO Development Fund – 2 waves of activity

Worked with different ULOs at different stages of development to develop solutions and resources to be used by others

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“Working Together with ULOs”

Publication launched in March 2009, endorsed by ADASS, LGA, SCIE, IDEA, NCIL and Shaping Our Lives

Summary of what a ULO is

Information on co-production between Local Authorities and ULOs and what this can be like in practice (plus some example)

Outlines benefits for local authorities working with ULOs and encourages positive engagement

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DH ULO project – current work

Continue working with User-led Action and Learning Sites

Disseminate resources produced by Action and Learning Sites to build capacity of other organisations (e.g. through new NCIL website)

Work with partners to coordinate capacity building initiatives available to ULOs (e.g. Disability LIB, NCIL, RADAR, Office for Disability Issues, Office for Third Sector)

ULO national conference, 12 March 2010

Work with partners to take forward and embed ULO agenda E.g. SCIE Commissioner tool Embed in Putting People First programme (e.g. joint milestones

document)

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Regional Capacity Building

DH started working through the regions to support ULO capacity building work in 2009/10

Funding made available to Deputy Regional Directors for capacity building work in 2009:

To support the delivery of Recommendation 4.3

To support recognition of the important role ULOs play generally in the implementation of the Independent Living Strategy

Recognise expected role of ULOs in implementation of the Right to Control

The key outcome is to develop the capability and capacity of ULOs within the regions

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Summary

At a national level, clear policy approach and organisations working together to embed ULO agenda

Delivery of capacity building of ULOs working through the Regions

Local Authority personalisation leads driving transformation of adult social care

ULOs have opportunity to contribute to several key areas and support LAs to successfully implement transformation

Build on long history of Disabled People’s Organisations to ensure transformation has the positive impact we are all aiming for