Disabled People Take The Lead As Norfolk Launches Groundbreaking Strategy

July 30, 2009 - PRLog -- In Putting People First, the government’s landmark protocol on personalisation, the goal was ‘… to be the first public service reform programme which is co-produced, co-developed, co-evaluated and recognises that real change will only be achieved through the participation of users and carers at every stage.’ In Norfolk we have gone further than what traditionally passes as ‘participation’ by from the onset having the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP) take the lead role in devising the commissioning strategy in partnership with Norfolk Adult Social Services, Norfolk NHS and NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

David Harwood, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services at Norfolk County Council, said: "Norfolk County Council is fully committed to working closely with disabled people…as we transform into a service that is personalised and meeting all the needs of those who use our services."

Personalisation calls for a completely new commissioning framework, one that allows social and health care services to be fitted around individuals’ needs rather than fitting those needs, as is done now, around a structure of predetermined services. In short, in the new personalised world service users will be the ultimate commissioners. The Norfolk commissioning strategy seeks to accommodate this by establishing a set of strong principles - including a social model understanding of disability and a firm grounding in human rights.

James Bullion, Assistant Director Community Care at Norfolk Adult Social Services said: “The Joint Commissioning Strategy offered here is Norfolk’s unique response to this need for a fundamentally different approach to commissioning. We want to be held to account for its delivery”

The strategy is built on research carried out by the NCODP. The purpose of the research was to discover the aspirations and desired life outcomes of disabled people. The resulting report “To go in a hot air balloon” will also be launched on July 30th.

The launch event will be held on Friday, 30 July and with a light lunch being served at 1pm in the Edwards Room, County Hall. Members of the media are welcome to attend. There will be interview and photo opportunities at 2:35pm.

Contacts

Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People
Mark Harrison - Chair of Joint Commissioning Strategy Board
Tel. 01603 491213 • Email. mark.harrison@ncodp.org.uk

Glossary

Strategic commissioning: is about developing and shaping the capacity within communities, markets and individual lives that will support all citizens to meet their needs and aspirations.

Personalisation agenda for health and social care: A major change in the system that puts choice and control at the centre of the process, with individuals deciding to manage their lives in their own way, rather than being dependent users of a menu of services.

Personal Budgets:  is a system designed to give people more control and flexibility over their care. A Personal Budget allows people who use services to choose the kind of care they think will benefit them the most, included buying a bicycle to get fit or paying to take part in community activities such as pottery classes to help meet new people and get involved with the community.

Key Documents

Putting People First
http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=8261282

Joint Commissioning Strategy
http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/adultsocialservices

Social Action Research “To go in a hot balloon”
http://www.ncodp.org.uk/about-us/consultancies/commission...

# # #

The NCODP is a human-rights group controlled by disabled people and their organisations. We organise and take part in campaigns and run services that promote social equality and dignity for all disabled people.

The NCODP regards having an impairment as a normal part of being human. Disability results from people with impairments being excluded by physical and social barriers and negative attitudes. Our main task is to challenge the many forms of discrimination created by these barriers and attitudes.

The NCODP believes that disabled people must take the leading role in decisions that affect their lives both locally and as part of the national and international disability movements in which the NCODP plays an active part. There must be “Nothing about us without us.”