All best value reviews include a requirement to consult with service users. This review demonstrated how service users can play more central role in designing and undertaking much of the review themselves. A project group of disabled people was established to review direct payments in one local authority using statutory best value framework.
All best value reviews include a requirement to consult with service users. This review demonstrated how service users can play more central role in designing and undertaking much of the review themselves. A project group of disabled people was established to review direct payments in one local authority using statutory best value framework.
Subject terms:
local authorities, physical disabilities, user participation, user views, best value, direct payments;
The National User Involvement Project was a four-site development project carried out by the national user consultants working in co-operation with joint commissioners, local organisations of disabled people and users of community services. It aimed to extend to range of service users involved in commissioning decisions to include members of ethnic minorities, older service users and people receiving services following hospital discharge. People with learning difficulties and mental health service users were included in the project. Outlines the findings.
The National User Involvement Project was a four-site development project carried out by the national user consultants working in co-operation with joint commissioners, local organisations of disabled people and users of community services. It aimed to extend to range of service users involved in commissioning decisions to include members of ethnic minorities, older service users and people receiving services following hospital discharge. People with learning difficulties and mental health service users were included in the project. Outlines the findings.
Subject terms:
physical disabilities, user participation, user views, commissioning, decision making, empowerment, evaluation;
The Shaping Our Lives project, working in partnership with the Shropshire Disability Consortium and with a coalition of user organisations in Sheffield, looked at the issues that had emerged from discussions with users about the future of rights and welfare, and the ways that users were being involved in shaping the support they received. The project worked at a national and a local level, with Shaping Our Lives carrying out country-wide work through booklets and a questionnaire on key issues, which produced a qualitative sample of 26.
The Shaping Our Lives project, working in partnership with the Shropshire Disability Consortium and with a coalition of user organisations in Sheffield, looked at the issues that had emerged from discussions with users about the future of rights and welfare, and the ways that users were being involved in shaping the support they received. The project worked at a national and a local level, with Shaping Our Lives carrying out country-wide work through booklets and a questionnaire on key issues, which produced a qualitative sample of 26.
Subject terms:
outcomes, physical disabilities, rights, service users, social welfare, user participation, user views, advocacy;
The Shaping Our Lives project, working in partnership with Black User Group (London), Service User Action Group (Wakefield), Ethnic Disabled Group Emerged (Manchester) and an alliance of user groups in Waltham Forest (London), looked at the application in practice of on-going work about what service users meant by 'user-defined outcomes'. Both the research and the development projects covered a range of experiences - including those of older people, mental health users, minority ethnic communities and disabled people and involving 66 users in all.
The Shaping Our Lives project, working in partnership with Black User Group (London), Service User Action Group (Wakefield), Ethnic Disabled Group Emerged (Manchester) and an alliance of user groups in Waltham Forest (London), looked at the application in practice of on-going work about what service users meant by 'user-defined outcomes'. Both the research and the development projects covered a range of experiences - including those of older people, mental health users, minority ethnic communities and disabled people and involving 66 users in all.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, older people, outcomes, physical disabilities, service users, user participation, user views, advocacy, black and minority ethnic people;
The presence of disabled people in refugee and asylum-seeking communities in Britain is frequently overlooked and information about their particular experiences is rarely available. Research generated data on the numbers and social characteristics of disabled refugees and asylum seekers living in Britain, reviewed their entitlements to social and welfare services and provided an insight into the experiences of disabled refugees and asylum seekers and service providers.
The presence of disabled people in refugee and asylum-seeking communities in Britain is frequently overlooked and information about their particular experiences is rarely available. Research generated data on the numbers and social characteristics of disabled refugees and asylum seekers living in Britain, reviewed their entitlements to social and welfare services and provided an insight into the experiences of disabled refugees and asylum seekers and service providers.
Subject terms:
physical disabilities, refugees, social care provision, unmet need, user participation, user views, access to services, asylum seekers, children;
The involvement of users has been actively promoted within social care as a way of developing more appropriate and responsive services, bringing benefits to both service users and providers. There has, however, been a noticeable lack of involvement by black disabled people. Research undertaken by Rachel Evans and Martin Banton of the Council of Disabled People Warwickshire with support from Coventry University's Centre for Social Justice explored one organisation's experiences in developing the involvement of black disabled people. Presents the findings of the research.
The involvement of users has been actively promoted within social care as a way of developing more appropriate and responsive services, bringing benefits to both service users and providers. There has, however, been a noticeable lack of involvement by black disabled people. Research undertaken by Rachel Evans and Martin Banton of the Council of Disabled People Warwickshire with support from Coventry University's Centre for Social Justice explored one organisation's experiences in developing the involvement of black disabled people. Presents the findings of the research.
Subject terms:
needs, outreach services, physical disabilities, service users, social exclusion, user participation, user views, black and minority ethnic people, empowerment;
Survey evidence suggests that young people, older people, unemployed people, disabled people and people from black and other minority ethnic communities are underrepresented as volunteers in mainstream organisations. Researched carried out by the National Centre for Volunteering found that some organisations have addressed the barriers that face potential volunteers from these groups and secured their involvement through the adoption of practical measures and a real commitment to equality of opportunity.
Survey evidence suggests that young people, older people, unemployed people, disabled people and people from black and other minority ethnic communities are underrepresented as volunteers in mainstream organisations. Researched carried out by the National Centre for Volunteering found that some organisations have addressed the barriers that face potential volunteers from these groups and secured their involvement through the adoption of practical measures and a real commitment to equality of opportunity.
Subject terms:
older people, physical disabilities, unemployment, user participation, volunteers, young people, black and minority ethnic people, equal opportunities;
The 1990 NHS and Community Care Act required local authority social services departments and health authorities to publish each year their plans for community care services, in collaboration with service users. The first community care plans were published in April 1992, a year before the main community care changes came into place; most have been revised annually since then. A project based at the University of Manchester has examined how disabled people are involved in community care planning in five local authority areas; and the opportunities which this offers to influence the development of services.
The 1990 NHS and Community Care Act required local authority social services departments and health authorities to publish each year their plans for community care services, in collaboration with service users. The first community care plans were published in April 1992, a year before the main community care changes came into place; most have been revised annually since then. A project based at the University of Manchester has examined how disabled people are involved in community care planning in five local authority areas; and the opportunities which this offers to influence the development of services.
Subject terms:
local authorities, physical disabilities, social welfare law, user participation, user views, care planning, community care, community care plans, health and social care law;
Black and minority ethnic service users felt mainstream services were often inappropriate for their needs and that services made assumptions based on stereotypes and prejudice about what the needs of these users may be or what they may want to access. The experience of racial discrimination and prejudice in mainstream service provision often meant that what minority ethnic users were asking for were specialist, culturally competent services. There were few black and minority ethnic staff in mainstream services and some of the services had made little attempt to change this.There was a general desire for more information about services and entitlements from service providers. For example, very few disabled people had any knowledge of direct payment schemes. Religious and cultural identity was very important to many people from minority ethnic communities but it was rarely responded to by mainstream service providers. Common myths about informal family networks looking after each other cannot be taken for granted. The research showed that although informal support is available in certain circumstances, this cannot be relied upon. People sometimes experienced discrimination and prejudice within their own community and faith groups. The differences between the experiences of men and women were often sharper than the differences between different ethnic groups.
Black and minority ethnic service users felt mainstream services were often inappropriate for their needs and that services made assumptions based on stereotypes and prejudice about what the needs of these users may be or what they may want to access. The experience of racial discrimination and prejudice in mainstream service provision often meant that what minority ethnic users were asking for were specialist, culturally competent services. There were few black and minority ethnic staff in mainstream services and some of the services had made little attempt to change this.There was a general desire for more information about services and entitlements from service providers. For example, very few disabled people had any knowledge of direct payment schemes. Religious and cultural identity was very important to many people from minority ethnic communities but it was rarely responded to by mainstream service providers. Common myths about informal family networks looking after each other cannot be taken for granted. The research showed that although informal support is available in certain circumstances, this cannot be relied upon. People sometimes experienced discrimination and prejudice within their own community and faith groups. The differences between the experiences of men and women were often sharper than the differences between different ethnic groups.
Subject terms:
physical disabilities, racial discrimination, religious discrimination, service users, social care provision, user participation, user views, access to services, black and minority ethnic people, cultural identity, direct payments;
A Task Force on Supporting Disabled Adults in their Parenting Role received evidence that people with physical impairments, sensory impairments, learning difficulties, mental health difficulties, long-term illness or HIV/AIDS experience common barriers to receiving appropriate support in their parenting role. The Task Force consisted of representatives from government, social services, voluntary organisations and disabled parents' organisations. It took evidence from parents, professionals and researchers.
A Task Force on Supporting Disabled Adults in their Parenting Role received evidence that people with physical impairments, sensory impairments, learning difficulties, mental health difficulties, long-term illness or HIV/AIDS experience common barriers to receiving appropriate support in their parenting role. The Task Force consisted of representatives from government, social services, voluntary organisations and disabled parents' organisations. It took evidence from parents, professionals and researchers.
Subject terms:
HIV AIDS, interpersonal relationships, learning disabilities, parent-child relations, parents, parents with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, social care provision, user participation, visual impairment, families, parental mental health;