1. Support Services of Tomorrow
Luk Zelderloo
Secretary General EASPD
Ljubljana, Slovenia
15th May 2017

2. EASPD in Brief
European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities
Based in Brussels, Not for Profit Organisation
Established in 1996
Objective: Equal opportunities for people with disabilities through effective and high quality service systems in Europe, which are affordable, available and adaptable.
EASPD represents over 15,000 service providers in 33 European countries covering all disabilities.

3. The Game-changer: UN CRPD
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
Adopted in 2006, signed by all EU Member States and the EU
Human Rights model: where individuals are supported to become active citizens in their communities and where support is tailored to individual needs and aspirations
Calls for the removal of all social constructed barriers which are the main cause of the social exclusion of persons with disabilities
Individualised support, person-centred planning, co-produced services and the empowerment of individuals and their families should be at the heart of policies and processes.

4. What does the UN CRPD mean for services?
UN CRPD & Services
What does the UN CRPD mean for services?
Past
Future
Institutional & segregating
Services targeting persons with disabilities
Professionals receiving persons with disabilities in their « centres »
Public funding going straight to service providers
Community based
Services targeting persons with disabilities & mainstream stakeholders (businesses, schools, authorities, etc)
Persons with disabilities receiving professionals in their homes
Public funding going to persons with disabilities who then choose service provision

5. Other changes & services
Past
Future
Stable and important role by public authorities in financing, monitoring and provision
Front line staff predominantly women, with men often in management positions
Inexistant or weak social dialogue structures
More mono-cultural staff and clients/users
Withdrawing role by public authorities
Better gender balance among staff and management
Strong social dialogue structures
More multi-cultural and diverse staff and clients/users

6. Living Independently and Being Included in the Community
UNCRPD & Art. 19
Living Independently and Being Included in the Community
States Parties must ensure that
Persons with disabilities should live where they wish and with whom they wish in order to live independently and be included in the community.
They shall have access to a range of in-home, residential and other community support services, including personal assistance
Persons with disabilities should enjoy community life and its opportunities on an equal basis with others and they should not be subject to isolation or segregation
Past
Future
Care provided in segregating & large residential settings; with 1 form of care provided to all residents;
Access to specialised services only;
Support for family carers by taking individual away.
Support & care provided in his/her home setting & must respond to individual needs, will & preferences
Promoting access to mainstream services (housing, education, etc
Support for family carers to ensure quality family life

7. Quality of Services characteristics
10 key quality requirements:
To facilitate full participation, inclusion and equal citizenship
To be built around people with disabilities and their changing needs: tailor made – person centred
To be community based and rooted in society
To be set up in, and in close cooperation with the mainstream
Holistic approach -> multi faceted approach

8. Quality of Services characteristics
10 key quality requirements:
6. Be provided by well trained and managed staff
7. Keep the family together
8. Be based on stakeholder cooperation
9. Ensure security to all users
10. Allow real and informed choices

9. Mistakes during the transition process
Challenges:
Mistakes during the transition process
Over-investment in current institutions
Maintaining parallel services
Alternatives with institutional culture
Closure of institutions without community alternatives

10. The way forward Mainstream support
Networks of support around the client
Knowledge centres/expertise
Plug & Play
Training of mainstream support staff …

11. ICT and Assistive Technology
The way forward
ICT and Assistive Technology
Distance support
Distance learning
Support through call centres …
Aiming at:
Employment
Inclusion
Full citizenship

12. The way forward New types of services Family support systems
Community support
Network & Community building
Provision of accessible information & legal advice
Respite care
Services for ageing people and their disabled family members
Early intervention

13. Innovative residential support
The way forward
Innovative residential support
Community based
User driven
Quality control, recruitment…
Rooted in society- bring support users …

14. From shaming and blaming towards a positive change:
Key Policy Issues
From shaming and blaming towards a positive change:
Wording!
What do we want?
Involvement of all stakeholders
Persons with Disabilities
Families
Professionals
Trade unions
Authorities…

15. Re-training & valuing professionals:
Key Policy Issues
Re-training & valuing professionals:
Old medical defect model (defectology)
Traditional- industrial management models (standardisation, economy of scale)
Care professionals…working poor

16. Scattered competencies=lack of coherence
Key Policy Issues
Scattered competencies=lack of coherence
Health, Justice, Education, Social Affairs, Employment….
Federal, regional, and municipal level
Societal consensus needed

17. Key Policy Issues Funding (system)
Overlap funding needed
Reorganise the traditional triangle funding system
Reforming in times of crisis=losing

18. Quality assurance systems
Key Policy Issues
Quality assurance systems
Traditionally: input focused
More up to date systems
Through put & process focus
Output & results

19. Co-production
Ultimate goal: a service, policy or activity that is responsive to the individual’s needs and preferences
Joint Definition by EASPD, EDF, Inclusion Europe, MHE, COFACE Families Europe
Co-production promotes shifting the balance of power and responsibility solely from professional support services and authorities
Co-production recognises that every individual with support needs should be fully, structurallly, meaningfully and in an ongoing manner involved at all stages in the design, development and delivery of the relvant policy, service or activity.
Co-production is an innovative working practice ensuring that all stakeholders actively rethink and reassess how they are currently operating

20. Conclusions
Reconfirmation policy objectives
Positive message
Societal consensus based on clear values & stakeholder involvement
Re-training of professionals
Empowerment through empowering support
Investment approach! Allocated budget
Leadership

21. Rue de Commerce/Handelsstraat 72
Thank You!
EASPD
Rue de Commerce/Handelsstraat 72