The Background behind Worcestershire County Council Modernisation of Day Opportunities for People with a Physical Disability or Sensory Impairment in Worcestershire
Prior to 2005 Worcestershire’s day services for people with a physical or sensory disability provided access to social, education, sport and leisure pursuits, mainly from day centre buildings. Although many service users gained a great deal from these ‘traditional’ services, few people moved on to further education, employment or to accessing ordinary leisure or social activities independently from the day service. It had been acknowledged for some time that, although existing service users in the main felt happy and comfortable with this model of service, it can set limits on people and lead to segregation.
The 2003 Joint Review of Worcestershire Social Services, carried out by the Audit Commission and Social Services Inspectorate, stated that day services for people with a physical or sensory disability needed to be reviewed and developed to promote social inclusion and personal independence. This was closely followed by the Physical Disability Best Value Review which stated that Sandalwood, the Wyre Forest service, should pilot a project which would change the way it delivered its services – from a mainly building based, exclusive service to a community based, inclusive service. Following the Wyre Forest pilot, the remaining day services in Worcestershire would follow in a rolling programme of modernisation, each changing its name to ‘Connect’ followed by its area. To date Bromsgrove, Redditch, Malvern and Worcester City have modernised and become ‘Connects’.
The New Connect Services
Each service will use a person centred approach to assist people who are newly referred by their social worker, to gain more control over their lives, by using their network of family and friends and other contacts in the community. This might include independent access to education, better quality leisure and social activities in ordinary settings and supporting people to gain and to keep work. This ‘one to one’ service is intended to be short term and will ascertain the aims of the individual and the steps they need to be supported with, in order to reach their goal. Each service will provide a weekly drop-in, at its base, to enable people to maintain social contacts and peer group support. Transport will not be provided, however, individuals will be supported to find alternative methods of transport such as car sharing, community transport such as Dial a Ride or public transport. As personal care is not provided, support will be available to find alternatives provision such as Direct Payments. Anyone with a physical or sensory disability will be eligible to attend the drop-in, there is no upper age limit and they do not have to be referred by a social worker.
Each service will provide a personal care suite, for people who are unable to access conventional toilet facilities. The suite will contain a tracking hoist, Closomat Toilet, variable height changing bed and hand wash basins. The personal care suites that will be available in Worcester City and Wyre Forest will be open 24 hours daily and will be accessed by trained service users and carers only. Although these facilities will not be staffed 24 hours daily, they will be monitored constantly and procedures will be in place for emergencies. Each service will also provide information and advice regarding disability, to individuals with disabilities, their carers and to the general public. The belief that underpins this process of modernisation, from day centre to community inclusion is that every one, no matter what their ability, has the right to become full and active members of their community. This is described, by a person with a physical disability, during a discussion about her future, as being able to live “A Life like Yours”. The Connect services are striving to make ordinary lives for people with physical disabilities a reality.
