Social Services Improvement is "slow and patchy"
16 Dec 2003
Most disabled people still do not have the opportunities they seek and the support they need to live independently and take control over their lives, says a Government report. It paints a picture of "slow and patchy improvement".
Direct payments are not yet sufficiently available and too many people experience home care which encourages dependency, according to the Social Services Inspectorate. "While many people expressed satisfaction with the services they received, we found these views often stemmed from low expectations of both quality and flexibility."
Managers responsible for disability are highly committed to developing and improving services, says the report. But they are sometimes frustrated by the failure of councils to view disabled people as a priority. Funding problems are often linked to the lack of a national policy framework for developing disabled services. Managers said this made it hard to compete against other service priorities.
The Inspectorate says it is essential that disabled people and other partners are actively involved in reviewing commissioning strategies to make sure they are coherent. The National Service Framework for people with long-term conditions, due to be published in 2004, will help but preparatory work is urgently needed.
"Where disabled people and carers are engaged at a strategic level and also with specific initiatives, frontline services are becoming more responsive to service users' needs and wishes."
The report highlights the need for:
Managers responsible for disability are highly committed to developing and improving services, says the report. But they are sometimes frustrated by the failure of councils to view disabled people as a priority. Funding problems are often linked to the lack of a national policy framework for developing disabled services. Managers said this made it hard to compete against other service priorities.
The Inspectorate says it is essential that disabled people and other partners are actively involved in reviewing commissioning strategies to make sure they are coherent. The National Service Framework for people with long-term conditions, due to be published in 2004, will help but preparatory work is urgently needed.
"Where disabled people and carers are engaged at a strategic level and also with specific initiatives, frontline services are becoming more responsive to service users' needs and wishes."
The report highlights the need for:
- more flexible and reliable home care
- promotion of independence
- less delay in home adaptations and accessing equipment
- more direct payments
- more support for disabled parents
- better transport arrangements
- expanded access to advocacy services
- updated public information
- more community-based day services
- development of services for ethnic disabled people
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