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Independence matters: an overview of the performance of social care services for physically and sensory disabled people
- Author:
- CLARK Jan
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health. Social Services Inspectorate
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 68p.
- Place of publication:
- London
Physically and sensorily disabled people should be benefiting from the modernisation of social care along with other service users. This report provides evidence that although some progress is being made, it is slow and patchy and too many disabled people still do not have the opportunities they seek and the support they need to live independently and take control over their lives. The services that councils provide, both through social services and their wider functions, are essential to delivering a high quality of life for disabled people. This can only be achieved with the support and strong leadership of chief executives, directors of social services, senior managers and councillors. Using evidence from both inspections and the annual delivery and improvement statements completed by councils, the report is organised under four themes - independence at home, identity and belonging, active citizenship and systems and processes. Key areas requiring further improvement include: home care is not sufficiently reliable or flexible and is not provided in a way that promotes independence; although waiting times for equipment and minor adaptations have improved some people have to wait unacceptably long times for major adaptations using the disabled facilities grant; services for those with brain injury are not well enough developed across the country; culturally sensitive services for disabled people are not well developed; disabled parents are often not effectively supported; day services needs reshaping to be more community-based, inclusive and linked to increasing employment opportunities although the numbers receiving direct payments are increasing there is still a long way to go before they are part of mainstream provision.