Steve Scown, interim chair Voluntary Organisations Disability Group Challenges and priorities for disability organisations: a perspective from VODG Steve Scown, interim chair Voluntary Organisations Disability Group

Who we are VODG is a small charity representing over 80 leading voluntary organisations working with people with a disability : We represent organisations who: Work with over a million disabled people. Employ more than 75,000 staff. Have a combined annual turnover in excess of £2.5 billion.

Who are our members? Some have a national presence, some are very local, and some work internationally. Some employ ‘000s of staff, some less than 25. Some work with people with a single disability, some work with people with more than one disability and some work across all areas of social care, some work in social care, health, housing and education.

How we work We believe in full choice and control for disabled people. We work in partnership across social care, health care, housing and education. We harness networks of individuals and organisations – both within VODG and from outside of it – to focus on issues important to organisations working with people with a disability.

What we try to do Influence the sector through a combined and expert voice that is authoritative, based on the applied experience of members. Build effective partnerships with central and local government and other key agencies and offers a means by which voluntary service providers can be consulted in a coherent way. Promote, conduct and engage in research to the benefit of its members and disabled people.

Deliverables

Some observations The issues foremost on our members’ agenda are: Funding and commissioning. Workforce. Care Act. Regulation.

Some observations Our members tell us about: Examples of changes in eligibility criteria resulting in reduced packages of support and unmet need on the increase. Local agendas being dominated by cost with very little attention given to choice and control. No appetite for sharing risk and very limited openness to innovation. A loud sector where it is hard to hear about good work and new ways of working.

Some observations Our members want VODG to: Be an expert and authoritative voice. Be clearer about the gap between policy and reality – and the implications for disabled people. Be a collaborative and constructive partner. Be part of the solution.

Despite the challenges The scenario: “I don’t understand why other staff are so resistant when I talk about using person centred thinking and approaches. If they tried it they would realise it doesn’t take anymore time and the impact for the person is huge”. The solution: Person-centred self audit – a set of reflective questions about a situation, or in a response to emotions felt.

Despite the challenges Thera North used the Health Charter self-assessment to prompt discussion about capacity assessments during mealtimes. Staff have successful introduced healthier menus that people have enjoyed. Managers found discussing the Health Charter learning as helpful in sharing best practice. The Health Charter findings will be taken forward by health champions to further share good practice across the organisation.

Despite the challenges A small Community Interest Company, owned by the members, has been created to deliver disability awareness training and peer audits. The company is creating paid for work opportunities and skill development for members – all have either learning disabilities, autism and physical disabilities – to deliver quality checks.

@VODGmembership #VODG15 Thank you! Connect with VODG: @VODGmembership #VODG15 info@vodg.org.uk Connect with me: @SScown steve.scown@dimensions-uk.org