Check your readiness for Independent Living This Independent Living eadiness Check will help services and communities to better understand what s involved in increasing older people s voice, choice and control, especially when older people need a lot of support in their lives. The vision for independent living is set out in the Independent Living Strategy: ll disabled people have the same choice, control and freedom as any other citizen at home, at work, and as members of the community. This does not mean disabled people doing everything for themselves but it does mean that any assistance people need is based on their own choices and aspirations. This vision includes older people having: Choice and control over the assistance and/or equipment needed to go about daily life Equal access to housing, transport and mobility, health, employment, social care, education and training opportunities This readiness check highlights areas where further joint action and investment may be needed to ensure that the six principles of independent living for older progressed and embedded within local services. It is for local authorities to use with local NHS organisations, commissioners and provider organisations from all sectors, older people s organisations, groups and networks, disability organisations and networks including user led organisations (ULOs) and peer support groups as well as broader community networks and groups with an interest in shaping local provision. etting started Local partners and communities, including older people, may work together to decide how they against these principles. The following self assessment uses a ed, mber, reen () traffic light system, rather than weighted scores, to enable participation from as broad a range of stakeholders as possible. Which traffic light colour most closely reflects the current local situation? 1
Where are you at now ed, mber or reen? ed Traditional forms of support dominate No awareness of voice, choice and control, or how they apply to older people including those with high support needs No visible leadership at any level although there may be some commitment from a small number of enthusiastic individuals mber Senior leads committed to working towards the Independent Living Vision & Six s Some plans and early signs of progress in commissioning and delivery few examples of good practice emerging and some stories of older people exercising voice, choice and control over their support reen Older people visibly engaged in local developments and exercising choice and control Older people using different ways to manage personal budgets to achieve their goals and meet their needs Older people choosing where they live, and what support they access from wide range of options and opportunities Problems addressed in partnership with older people and flexible solutions are sought 2
chieving independent living with and for older people eadiness check ILOP 1: Increase voice I am in the driving seat of my own support. I am involved in the local developments and decisions that I want to be a part of. ecognising the diversity of older people's voices and experiences. Paying attention to the voices of older people with very high support needs, e.g. people living with dementia. Encouraging the next generation of older disabled leaders. Promoting a range of opportunities for older disabled people to influence local decisions. Supporting person centred approaches that promote inclusion, enable participation and increase the self determination of older Understanding and responding to the diverse needs and aspirations of older disabled eaching out to those whose voices are not heard. Encouraging the development and use of approaches that increase the individual voices of older disabled Supporting user led organisations, older people s forums and other groups to increase the collective voice of older disabled Co-producing the design, development and delivery of support for older disabled What providers dopting co-production and user-centred approaches in the design and delivery of support for older disabled Ensuring all staff are trained and supported to work in person centred ways, understanding the vision and six principles of independent living. Providing on-the-job support, coaching and mentoring to staff. Involving older people in the recruitment and induction of staff. 3
ILOP 2: Ensure equal access I know what s available locally and can access support that makes sense for me, including: Information, advice, advocacy and brokerage support from a range of sources. Early intervention and preventative support. Community based support, including housing related support, aids and adaptations. Help to manage my long term conditions. Keeping up-to-date with equality policies and legislation, including changes to be introduced as part of the Equality Bill from 2011/2012. Supporting local age discrimination audits using tools such as the chieving ge Equality toolkit. Ensuring that older disabled not discriminated against in access to goods and services. Working with local leaders and champions to promote a rights based approach to independent living. Promoting and supporting the development of user-led organisations and peer support. Using older people s priorities and preferences to guide investment decisions. Ensuring a joined up approach across the whole system e.g. through increased use of pooled budgets and joint commissioning. Promoting person centred approaches. Ensuring that older disabled people have access to mainstream services and support. Ensuring that older disabled people have access to specialist services and support such as housing related aids, adaptations and equipment, stroke care, and talking therapies. What providers Using JSN information to continually review who is accessing services and how to reach those who could benefit from support. ecruiting and developing competent, person centred teams. dopting person centred approaches with older disabled Providing a range of early intervention and preventative support for older disabled people wherever they live. Working with local partners to ensure a range of provision for people who fund their own support. Delivering community based support that builds on existing social networks. Delivering a range of housing options and housing related support. 4
ILOP 3: Enable choice and control I know what I m entitled to, and how to access it. I know where to go to for help if I need it. I live where I want to live, and with the people I want to live with. I am able to take risks, am respected, know my rights and am treated as an equal and valued member of my family and local community. Older reporting more choice and control across a range of all aspects of their life (not just care services). Supporting a system wide move away from conventional patterns of support based around care homes and day centres. This requires radical re-thinking of practical arrangements that enable older disabled people to lead their everyday lives. Demanding a wide range of opportunities for support that older people use and shape in partnership with others regardless of neighbourhood, age, disability, expectations, impairment, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender and income. are doing Ensuring a truly joint strategy exists for older disabled people to pursue a wide range of support options. Supporting the delivery of joined up information, advice and brokerage support. ggregating data from older people s support plans to identify gaps. Supporting innovations in self-directed support. Ensuring that innovations extend to all older disabled people who need support, including 'selffunders'. Supporting and publicising the development of a wide range of housing options. Commissioning accessible transport options: e.g. access to mobility aids and equipment; learning how and why older disabled people use different transport options. What providers dopting person centred approaches and providing staff training. Providing equal access to personal budgets and other resources for older Developing person centred support plans with assistance available from a range of people, if needed. Working with older people and everyone around them to build circles of support. Ensuring that older people can get help accessing information and advice in making complex decisions. Improving access to adaptations and repair services that enable older people to stay in their own homes. Linking telecare service providers to mainstream and specialist service providers, and promoting this to older disabled people and their families. 5
ILOP 4: Enable participation I am part of family and community life. I am part of the big decisions going on around me. emoving barriers to Widening existing opportunities for Stimulating and encouraging new opportunities for participation that reach out to and include specific communities and groups of older disabled Promoting information about opportunities for Working with organisations and providers to develop opportunities for older people with very high support needs including those with dementia. emoving structural barriers such as upper age limits to volunteering and non accessible facilities. Developing opportunities that are supported by technology such as remote and virtual Developing more family friendly policies and services, and increasing support for family carers. What providers Publicising information about opportunities for Developing opportunities for participation that work for older people with very high support needs, including those with dementia. emoving structural barriers such as upper age limits to volunteering and non accessible facilities. Developing opportunities that are supported by technology such as remote and virtual dopting family friendly policies for staff such as carers leave. Focusing on the relationships between people, not seeing older people as isolated individuals. 6
ILOP 5: Join it up strategically The support I have helps me in all areas of my life. I am not discriminated against because of my age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability or income. Working together to understand the local older population including ageing and disability characteristics in the round, rather than volume measures of need and projected increases in numbers over a certain age. Establishing and communicating a shared vision for increasing the voice, choice and control of older people wherever they live, whatever their impairment or eligibility for support. Making the most of existing partnership mechanisms e.g. Local Strategic Partnerships, Joint Strategic Needs ssessments (JSNs). Embedding these characteristics and trends in local Joint Strategic Needs ssessments (JSNs). Using joint commissioning and pooled budgets to increase the range of options and opportunities for independent living available to older disabled Setting up inclusive and accessible communication channels and decision making processes. What providers Working in partnership, and sharing resources and ideas with other providers. ecognising that they are part of a diverse range of small, medium and large providers across all sectors that together ensure a flexible and adaptable market is delivering the kind of support that older people with high support needs and their families want. 7
ILOP 6: Promote a new way of thinking I am inspired by the images of older people I see in local and regional media. I am part of a vibrant, multigenerational community. Consciously moving away from and challenging negative attitudes that portray older disabled people as a drain on public resources. Moving towards forward-thinking, opportunity-focused ways of thinking that recognise and use older people s skills, talents, potential and contributions. dopting new ways of thinking and new ways of organising resources that result in different models of support that ensure voice, choice and control is a reality for older disabled Challenging and dismantling negative attitudes towards ageing, older people and disability that restrict decision-making at all levels. What providers uditing current practice and delivery to identify what needs to change. esponding to individual goals and priorities identified in person centred support plans. Supporting and becoming part of circles of support that help older disabled people to live their plans. Continually reviewing what they and providing. Making sure that they are delivering what older people say makes a positive different to their lives. 8