Disability Service Provision A Perspective from the Department of Health and Children Fergal Lynch Assistant Secretary, Continuing Care Policy 14 November 2006

The Key Challenges Investing in People and Services National Disability Strategy Building the relationship between statutory and voluntary agencies C&AG Report Achieving real change

National Disability Strategy Sets the agenda for change Disability Act 2005 EPSEN Act 2004 Sectoral Plans Multi Annual Investment Programme

National Disability Strategy Builds on existing framework incl: Employment Equality Act 1998 Equal Status Act 2000 Equality Act 2004 Seeks to: Combine legislation, policies, institutional arrangements for equal participation

Disability Act 2005 Effective implementation is key Seeks to Identify and deliver individual health, education and personal social services Focus on the individual Promote real equity Help highlight needs, services and gaps Ministers must budget to respond to financial demands of Act, while taking account of other responsibilities

Disability Act 2005 Independent assessment of need – as of right To be provided by assessment officers in HSE with independent statutory functions To be undertaken in accordance with pre-defined standards Individual service statements prepared by Liaison Officers, taking account of Assessment report Eligibility Standards and codes of practice Practicality of providing services Financial resources

Disability Act 2005 Includes complaints procedure against: Finding of no disability Assessment not commenced/completed Assessment not meeting HIQA standards Contents of service statement Failure to provide a health or education service contained in service statement or to provide it within any prescribed timeframe

Disability Act 2005 Individual may appeal against Recommendation of complaints officer Non implementation of recommendation of complaints officer (by HSE or education provider) Appeals Officer to be appointed by Minister for Health and Children. Independent office, budget and staff To provide independent mediation, appeals and enforcement Statutory powers to summon witnesses, enter premises, obtain information Scope for enforcement order – apply to Circuit Court

DoHC: Main Actions to Implement Commence Part II for under-5s on Commence for 5-18’s in tandem with EPSEN Commence adults not later than 2011 Regulations on assessment of need process Standards for assessment of need process Regulations for making complaints

DoHC: Main Actions to Implement Appoint appeals officer and staff Cross sectoral team for DA and Epsen National Disability Advisory Committee Review Sectoral Plan by July 2007

Investing in People and Services €2.4 billion in 2006 Multi Annual Programme Produced tangible developments, new residential places 85 new respite places 535 new day places 80 new res. places/inappropriate placements 250,000 extra hours, home support Developments of similar scale 2006 and beyond

Investing in People and Services The agenda must be investment We need to demonstrate tangible results Information needs Focus on meeting individual needs Harness the potential brought by increased resources Challenge to keep momentum

Building Relationships Statutory and voluntary have a long history of working together Identify best means of delivery C&AG Report is entirely consistent with overall approach of National Disability Strategy

C & AG Report Huge advantage of vol/stat partnership but inconsistencies in how services are planned and resources allocated New approach to procuring and delivering services Refinement of contractual relationships Service agreements between HSE and providers: meet agreed needs of clients, not block grants Service statements will bring specificity re services to be provided

C & AG Report Unitary HSE to help a standardised approach New governance framework needed for non-statutory sector We need a new resource allocation model for services – an issue wider than disability

Achieving Real Change NDS offers considerable potential Disability Act changes the focus of what we do Consensus on future planning and service provision is vital We’re all “in this together” This is about people