Living My Life,
My Way
A strategy for
disabled people in Staffordshire
2013 - 2018
“I really enjoy
my cooking”
Foreword
Councillor Robert Marshall,
Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing
As part of Staffordshire’s overarching Health
and Well Being Strategy I am pleased to be able
to introduce our commissioning intentions for
opportunities, services and provision to meet the
needs of people living with a disability, whether
they are infants, children, young people or adults.
This Strategy will affect all disabled people;
whether they are part of the 19% of school
children with special educational needs (SEN),
children with educational and behavioural
disabilities, 17,000 adults with some level of
learning difficulties or those with more significant
difficulties that result in exclusion from the
lifestyle that the rest of us take for granted.
However, primarily this Strategy is targeted at
improving the lives of the most disabled people in
Staffordshire as by meeting the needs, wishes and
aspirations of the most vulnerable we will improve
the life chances of everyone.
Over the next five years we want to make changes
so that, regardless of age, all disabled people
receive smooth and uninterrupted support to
ensure that they live fulfilling and independent
lives. We feel passionate about this agenda. We
want to move away from the tired old ways of
delivering services where we pour money into
maintaining costly buildings. Instead, we want to
strike a new deal with disabled people and their
families. We want to do away with the current
confusing way that different agencies deliver
services to disabled people. We want to do away
with the multiple figures that appear in disabled
peoples lives. We want to be sure that parents
who have fought for an education for their
children can be sure that education is purposeful
and we want to ensure there are wide ranging
opportunities that enable disabled people to
achieve their full potential.
A review of disabled people’s real life experiences
of being a recipient of services in Staffordshire
has found that it is not uncommon for disabled
people and their families to have up to 37
different people involved in planning and
delivering what they need. We’ve also found
that there is no common language around
disability and that professionals sometimes fail
to understand each other or work together. This
often results in poorly joined up services, delays
and overlaps. This is just not good enough.
Most importantly of all, we have been challenged
by disabled people themselves in Staffordshire.
One group of service users in a day service
decided this was not how they wanted to live
their lives, they wanted control over how the local
authority spent their money and they wanted
to change the way things were run. We rose to
the challenge and Rockspur was born. This was
the first user led organisation in Staffordshire
that allows disabled people and their families’
complete control over the decision making about
their own lives.
We are excited about this strategy. It means a
change to the way we do things.
3
We want to offer disabled people a personalised
service that meets their aspirations, wants and
needs. We recognise that there is a difference
between the needs of all disabled people for
access to good information, advice and guidance
and universal support, and the needs of the few
who require all of these things, but may also
require more specialist support.
This means changing the way we do things and
to this end, we are seeking to refocus our support
as a county council and in conjunction with our
partners to ensure a fair deal for all disabled
people in Staffordshire.
These are bold and ambitious plans which will
require the co-operation and vision of all partners
including disabled people and their families.
We need to make the leap towards the provision
of personalised support that’s based on ‘simple
solutions’ that make the lives of disabled people
and their families easier, transforms their journey
through their lifespan, provides greater equality,
promotes community cohesion and maximises
the use of resources.
It’s exciting times.
Robert Marshall
Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing
Alan White
Cabinet Support Member for Care
Ben Adams
Cabinet Member for Learning and Skills
Mark Winnington
Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure
4
Introduction
The ‘Living My Life, My Way’ Strategy sets out our vision,
ambitions, and commissioning intentions for disabled people
of all ages across Staffordshire.
The overarching aim of this Strategy is to ensure
that all disabled children, young people and
adults are able to live healthy, full and fulfilling
lives. Our aim is to make the priority outcomes of
the county council a reality for disabled children,
young people, adults and their families.
The ‘Living My Life, My Way’ Strategy means a
radical shift in the way we operate. High quality
accessible services are vitally important, but in
the past we have focussed too much on fitting
the disabled person into an existing service.
Living My Life, My Way is all about ensuring that
disabled people and their families are in control
and supported in the way they choose, to achieve
their own goals.
parents with a disabled baby or toddler.
We want to make sure the right help is
available, for example good quality child
care that is stimulating, safe and encourages
development of early milestones.
Lifelong Learning: Ensuring that education,
lifelong learning and skills development
is purposeful and results in meaningful
opportunities for disabled people that enable
them to take their place as full citizens.
Choice and Control: Ensuring that disabled
people of all ages are able to control the way
in which they are supported to live fulfilling
lives.
It means mobilising all partners; disabled
people and their families, schools, colleges,
health, independent and user led organisations,
employers, housing providers and the Police
to work together with District and Borough
Councils to ensure that disabled people and
their families are able to access the wide ranging
opportunities that are available to all within their
own communities.
Community Opportunities: Ensuring that
people with disabilities have equal access
to the whole range of universal services and
community opportunities.
To achieve these ambitious aims, this Strategy
focuses upon 7 Key Priority Outcomes:-
A Strong Voice for Disabled People & their
families : We will move from listening to
disabled people and their families to valuing
and supporting their right to be in charge
of how their own support is planned and
delivered.
The Best Start in Life: We will work with
parents and carers to make sure that each
child is safe, supported and cared for whilst
being able to take managed risks, develop
a positive self image and become physically
healthy and emotionally resilient. We want
to make sure that there is early help for
Good Health: Improving health outcomes
(both physical and emotional wellbeing)
and reducing health inequalities for disabled
people.
Staying Safe: We will enable all disabled
people to live safer lives and will protect the
most vulnerable.
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Executive Summary
The ‘Living My Life, My Way’ Commissioning Strategy outlines
our vision, ambitions and commissioning priorities for disabled
people of all ages in Staffordshire.
We recognise that the way in which services have
been provided has limited choice for disabled
people. Resources provided have been targeted
at larger ‘specialist’ services, limiting the scope to
develop alternatives. We will reverse this trend. We
will start to shift resources away from larger scale
residential and specialist day services provision,
and increase the range of User Led Organisations
(ULO’s), Supported Employment and facilities that
enable people to access universal provision.
and Young People Commissioning Strategy,
the Long Term Conditions Strategy, the Special
Educational Needs and Disability Strategy (SEND)
and the Autism Strategy as well as other local and
national drivers.
People with disabilities have told us
Staffordshire is a place where people can live
safely – free from crime, the causes of crime,
and the fear of crime.
There needs to be menu of choices including
using universal services, using Personal
Assistants, User Led Organisations and
building based services if that is the choice
of the individual.
The Strategy is informed by a range of local plans
such as the Staffordshire Health and Wellbeing
Strategy, the Staffordshire County Council
Strategic Plan, the People Strategy, the Children
Our purpose is to make the following priority
outcomes of the county council a reality for
disabled children, young people, adults and their
families:
Staffordshire’s economy prospers and grows,
together with the jobs, skills, qualifications
and aspirations to support it in Staffordshire’s
communities, vulnerable people are able to
live independent and safe lives, supported
where this is required.
Staffordshire’s children and young people can
get the best start in life and receive a good
education so that they can make a positive
contribution to their communities.
Staffordshire is a place where people can live
longer, healthier and fulfilling lives.
Staffordshire’s communities can access,
enjoy and benefit from a range of learning,
recreational and cultural activities.
“We want disabled people in
Staffordshire to see and feel
speedy improvements”.
6
We want to change the way that disabled people
are labelled and we want to develop common
language amongst professionals. We need to
reduce confusion and misunderstanding between
professionals and focus on common goals and
outcomes.
We think that trusting disabled people and
their families to know what is best for them and
enabling them to shape the help they need is
the best way to make disabled people equal
citizens in Staffordshire. Together we will deliver
radical and positive change that ensures that
disabled people and their families are in control
of their care, support and education from birth
to adulthood and old age. Where a person has
disabilities that are so complex they are unable
to communicate their wishes and needs, we will
work with advocates, their families and other
carers to make sure that they are able to make
choices and reach their full potential.
We understand that some disabled people will
have particular needs because their disabilities are
complex or because their families are struggling
with other issues alongside their child’s disability.
This may include issues around work, poverty,
childcare, domestic abuse, mental ill health,
education etc. In these instances, we still want
to ensure that disabled people are able to move
away from being passive recipients of inflexible
services and retain the right to personalised
support that delivers the right solutions in the
right place at the right time.
Bringing together the responsibilities for all
services that support disabled people provides a
tremendous opportunity to harness the expertise,
energy and resources within Staffordshire,
and deliver excellent outcomes for disabled
children, young people and adults. We know
that this agenda is much larger than Staffordshire
County Council and our strategy truly reflects
the requirement for a whole Staffordshire
approach, recognising the vital part that all
partners and agencies play in actively sharing this
vision.
We will ensure that high quality information,
advice and guidance and universal support
is available for all disabled people alongside
everyone else. This will mean that disabled people
live their lives as full citizens, with the right to
shape and control their own support and to have
their desires and needs met in the way they want.
Our overarching priorities for the next five
years for all disabled people are as follows:The Best Start in Life
Lifelong Learning
Choice and Control
Community Opportunities
Good Health
A Strong Voice for Disabled People and
their Families
Staying Safe
We know that the current climate, in particular
the national economic situation, has created
challenges for us. We have acknowledged these
pressures and have developed a strategy that is
both fit for the future and committed to delivering
the outcomes that disabled people and their
families tell us they want.
Our willingness to listen means that some
of the changes we will make will be bold
and transformational. We want disabled
people in Staffordshire to see and feel speedy
improvements. The ‘Living My Life, My
Way’ Commissioning Strategy defines our
commitments to disabled children, young people
and adults and highlights our intentions for the
next five years.
7
What do we know about the
needs of disabled people in
Staffordshire?
What Disabled People and their
families tell us
830,000 people live in Staffordshire. Our analysis
tells us that over 19,000 school age children are
supported with their Special Educational Needs
and 2353 to 5715 have a learning disability. There
are 17,904 to 21,230 adults with some level of
learning disability, of whom 3294 have moderate
to severe learning disabilities.
Disabled People in Staffordshire have a strong
voice, and have used this voice to send out a very
clear message about what is important to them,
what works for their families, their needs, wants
and aspirations. We want to use this to inform the
development of future opportunities in our County.
Extensive engagement with disabled children,
young people and their families as part of our
Aiming High Sufficiency Statement work has
emphasised the importance that they place, not
upon ‘services’ but upon being supported to learn,
make friends and enjoy their lives. They told us
about the importance of:
Activities that enable children and young
people to make friends, be part of group
activities and to do things together as a family
Being supported to live an ordinary life, playing
and learning alongside friends within their
communities.
Weekly clubs, especially for children and young
people who like to have routine, activities
during the school holidays, clubs that also
enable siblings to attend helps children and
young people to feel more confident.
Disabled children and their families told us
about the importance of having a smooth
transition to adult life, including activities for
those who need them.
Parents told us that:
They value activities where they are able to
do things with other families with disabled
children, such as the one-off family days.
They appreciate the opportunity to access
short breaks and some families told us that
they rely on them.
8
People with disabilities have told us
A disability does not disappear when the
young person reaches 18. Families have
great need of affordable respite care when
caring for an adult with a learning disability.
Good careers advice and post 16 support.
Sex education and advice from GPs.
Furthermore the Youth Action Kouncil Manifesto
2010 identifies that all children and young people
in Staffordshire have the following priorities:
Affordable and reliable transport.
We also know that parents who have been offered
a personalised approach to their child’s care are
delighted with outcomes giving them (Murray
2009):
Education and advice on sex and relationships.
Choice and flexibility for the whole family.
Portraying young people positively in the
media.
A voice.
A sense of being valued.
A positive view of their disabled child.
Opportunities to make connections with their
communities.
Opportunities for children and young people
to make friends.
Simple solutions.
Adult time with their partner.
Opportunities to carry on or return to work.
Ability to respond to the fluctuating needs of
illness and impairment.
Transparency and greater understanding of
what services and support cost.
Time with their other children.
Opportunities for children to develop self
confidence and self esteem.
Opportunities to try things out to see what
works best.
Control over how the money allocated to them
is spent.
In addition, the Staffordshire Parents Panel has
told us about the importance of:
Affordable childcare, play and educational
activities for younger children.
Good relationships with schools and high
quality experiences for their children.
Happy children.
After school activities.
Affordable and positive activities.
Feeling safe and free from the fear of bullying.
Young people with disabilities are no different to
everyone else in this respect.
Adults with learning disabilities and their carers
told us about the importance of:
 B
eing treated equally and fairly and having the
same opportunities as everyone else.
 M
aintaining friendships and making new
friends.
 B
eing involved in planning the services,
support and activities they use.
 H
aving access to information about the
activities and support that is available to them.
 H
aving more personal assistants to help them
to access community facilities.
 S upport to find a job; help with completing
an application form, and developing interview
skills.
 H
aving something to do in the evening and at
weekends; some people told us that their lives
revolved around doing things in the day, and
there was not much to do at night.
 H
aving the opportunity to have proper
holidays, e.g. travelling abroad like everyone
else, some people told us that they were used
to going to residential respite centres.
 H
aving more choice in college courses and
courses which lead somewhere and increasing
their chances of getting a job.
 F eeling safe when they are out and about;
some people told us that they had been
bullied, harassed and even assaulted.
9
“We love
reading”
10
Adults with physical and sensory impairments and
their carers told us about the importance of:
Accessible and timely information in the
preferred format.
The option to try equipment before you buy is
essential.
The need for a fully integrated equipment
service across health and social care.
Appropriate assessment before discharge from
hospital.
Getting discharge from hospital right the first
time by making sure the right support is in
place when disabled people return home.
More active work in physiotherapy in hospital
and the community setting.
Not writing older disabled people off in terms
of employment.
More planning with older carers: “what
happens next?”
These priorities reflect the very real views
and concerns of people with disabilities and
their families and they are reflected in our
commissioning actions. They also identify two
recurring themes – ‘Real Wealth’ whereby families
build solutions around their own strengths and
other assets in order to sustain their own resilience,
and ‘Relationships’ whereby families connect to
others, to other families and professionals in order
to get the strength and value that comes through
different connections and experiences.
Needs Profile of Disabled People
in Staffordshire
In order to plan effectively to meet the needs of
people with disabilities in Staffordshire, we need
to have a good understanding of the numbers of
people and the types of needs both now and in
the future.
The information we have about disabled
people in Staffordshire is patchy. We have a lot
of information in some areas and too little in
others. We need to improve the way we gather
information and we need to use the information
we have to make sure that personalised pathways
meet the needs of all disabled people alongside
additional support for the few with specialist
needs. This means that we will have to be radical
about the way we offer support and about who
is in the driving seat. We know that this makes
sense and will provide wider benefits to all the
citizens of Staffordshire.
We know that the current system does not always
work well enough for all disabled citizens. There
are a number of distinct systems that impact on
the lives of disabled people and their families, for
example separate children and adult social care,
health, benefits, tax and tax credits, employment,
education and schooling. This array of systems
means there is too much potential for duplication,
poor transitions, conflicting approaches and ways
of working and different objectives and outcomes.
This can cause tension for individuals and families
in relation to the number of professionals involved
in supporting them and the number of times they
have to tell their story. It makes it more difficult
to get the right advice and support from the right
person, in the right place at the right time.
We know there are marked variations in the way
in which disability types are recorded by different
services (education, health or social care) and it is
not possible to accurately compare between data
sets.
To strengthen our strategic analysis we have
used a wide array of data sources which tell us a
great deal about the needs and views of people
with disabilities in Staffordshire. We use this
information to make sure that we direct our focus
and support to the right places.
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The following section provides an overview of the needs of
disabled children, young people and adults. Further more
detailed analysis is available in the Joint Strategic Needs
Assessment and the Aiming High Sufficiency Statement both of
which are available on the Staffordshire Observatory website.
Disabled Children, Young People and Adults
Disability Type
Age Range
Staffordshire
Population
Predicted Trend
by 2020
Learning Disability
0-18
2,353 – 5,715
(estimate)
2,200 – 5,200
18 +
17,904 – 21,230
(estimate)
16,300
Long Term Conditions
0-18
8,000
(inc stroke, diabetes,
asthma, CHD, epilepsy,
hypertension, hypothyroidism,
COPD
18+
268,985
(37% of total pop’n)
Disabled Children
Disabled Children
In Staffordshire there has been a slight increase
in the under 16 Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
claimant rate between August 2009 (2.81%) and May
2011 (2.97%), although this is broadly in line with the
national rate of 2.95% and lower than the regional
rate of 3.27%. However, DLA uptake rates vary
considerably across Staffordshire districts and this
needs to be considered when determining service
provision for disabled children and young people.
According to the Census 2001, Staffordshire had
nearly 200,000 children aged 0-19 years with 4.2%
(8,335) having a limiting long-term illness (LLTI) or
disability.
Population projections for Staffordshire suggest that
there will be a decrease of 0.4% in the population
aged 0-19 from 2008 to 2028. However, at district
level there are significant differences. More
information about district variations can be accessed
from the Sufficiency Statement available on the
Staffordshire Observatory website.
When considering LLTI across ethnic groups in
Staffordshire there appears to be some variation
with people of mixed heritage having the highest
rate of 4.9% and Chinese or other ethnic groups
having the lowest rate with 4.0% of children and
young people having a LLTI. Although due to the
low numbers of children in minority ethnic groups
across Staffordshire this variation may not be
significant to local services.
12
The estimated prevalence rates for mild and severe
disability show that overall Staffordshire is likely
to see the number of 0 - 19 year olds with mild
disability remain the same between 2008 and 2028,
and a 1.6% increase in severely disabled 0 - 19
year olds. (Although caution should be exercised
in considering these estimates as they are based
on a standardised rate across all areas and they do
not take into account variations in the prevalence
of disability across districts and other factors e.g.
increased deprivation and higher levels of poverty
which may lead to higher prevalence rates).
Education, Employment and Training
In January 2010 there were 19,046 children supported in schools with Special Educational Needs (SEN),
these children represented nearly 19% of the overall school population.
Of those pupils classed as having a SEN 11,090 were supported at School Action level, 5,298 were at
School Action Plus level and 2,658 had statements of SEN.
There were 2658 pupils with a statement of Special Education Needs, the table below displays
information regarding the primary needs of a number of this group.
Physical
Impairment
Autistic
Spectrum
Disorder
(ASD)
Moderate
Learning
Disability
Severe
Learning
Disability
Visual
Impairment
Hearing
Impairment
197
437
650
431
31
42
As at May 2010 there were 380 active early
years’ referrals for children aged 1-4 years whose
progress was causing concern or extra support
and assessment was required.
Staffordshire has 23 Special Schools most of
which are generic with 3 being for children/
young people with a physical disability and 3
for children/young people with behavioural/
emotional and social difficulties. Between
them they provide support for 2040 children
and young people. The NHS has a statutory
responsibility to enable children/young people
to access education and contributes to the
Special School Nursing service. In addition we
have increasing numbers of disabled children in
Staffordshire who access mainstream education.
Approximately 100 young people aged 16-24
with learning difficulties and/or disabilities
requiring high level support attend local Further
Education Colleges each year and a further 65
young people require education provision from
an Independent Specialist College outside of
Staffordshire. The number of young people from
Staffordshire requiring this specialist provision
out of county has grown over recent years with
learners from Staffordshire representing 30% of
the cohort. Source: 2010/11 ILR
In October 2011 the proportion of 16-19 year olds
with learning difficulties and/or disabilities who
were not in education, employment or training
had dropped to 7.69% compared to 9.28% the
previous year. However this remains significantly
higher than the 16-19 whole cohort rate of 3.76%.
Source: ASPIRE
We know that the proportion young people with
a statement of Special Educational Need not in
education, employment or training increases
from 4.76% aged 16 to around 30% five years on.
Source: 2006 Year 11 Leavers, ASPIRE Data
At present, it is difficult to accurately identify
the number of disabled adults in Staffordshire
who require and/or want support to secure
paid employment, apprenticeships or voluntary
work. There is little reliable data available about
the number of adults with a disability who
have undertaken educational courses, preemployment training programmes or who are
presently in employment.
The data and outcomes for people with learning
disabilities in employment are very limited and
one of our objectives is to improve the data
we have in order to demonstrate improved
outcomes in employment, education and training
for people with disabilities.
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Disabled Adults
Disability & Housing
There are 14,003 adults with physical disabilities or
sensory impairments currently receiving some form
of support from adult social care. As a result there is
a wide range of support available and some people
receive more than one form of support equating
to18,551 elements of support offered across
Staffordshire. This might be anything from day care
to Direct Payments or equipment and adaptations
to residential nursing care.
Estimates of the number of people aged 18-64 with
a learning disability helped to live independently
and those in supported residential and nursing
care during the year is taken from key performance
indicators.
There are approximately 18,000 adults with some
level of learning disability in Staffordshire, 1,939 of
whom are in receipt of support from adult social
care. This rises to 2241 if maintainable equipment
and professional support is included.
We also know that in 2009/10 approximately 2,600
people were recorded on a learning disability
register with their GP in Staffordshire. However,
this is a self reporting register and only therefore
represents those who both know about it and are
willing to register on a voluntary basis. It is therefore
likely to be a significant under-representation of
the actual numbers of people affected by learning
disability in Staffordshire.
Health Inequalities Experienced by
People with Learning Disabilities
People with disabilities face serious health
inequalities which puts them at higher risk of
disease and premature death. National research
indicates that people with moderate to serious
learning disabilities are three times as likely to die
early than the general population. They are more
likely to experience poor general health and to
have high levels of unmet physical and mental
health needs. Common health problems among
people with disabilities include: respiratory disease,
coronary heart disease, obesity, mental health
problems (including dementia), epilepsy and
sensory impairments.
Many of the determinants of poor health can be
mitigated by appropriate preventative measures
such as better screening, targeted information,
advice, support and reasonable adjustments to
ensure people get good quality healthcare. Clinical
Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will have a key role
in tackling health inequalities and will need to
work in partnership with local authorities and the
wider public services to ensure progress in tackling
inequalities and improve the health of the local
disabled population.
14
This highlights that 1,860 disabled people were
helped to live at home, (predicted to reduce slightly
to 1,823 by 2020), and 435 disabled people were
supported in residential or nursing care during the
year with numbers predicted to remain similar in
future years.
Source: Projecting Adult Needs and Service Information (PANSI)
The range of Housing & Support options available
to people with learning disabilities has increased
significantly over the last 2 years. However there
is still significant work to be done to improve
this further – 43% of the total budget for adults
with Learning Disabilities is spent on residential
or nursing care. This points to a clear need to
understand the options regarding housing and
support that are available in each District Council.
Direct Payments
Staffordshire has worked hard to increase the
use of Direct Payments for disabled children
and adults. The success of this programme
has been underpinned by the work to develop
a marketplace that offers real choice and
high quality provision from which people can
purchase their support packages. This means
that in 2007/8 15.5% of adults accessed Personal/
Direct Payments. In 2010/11 this rose to 38.7%
and in 20011/12 to 40.5%.
Income Deprivation
Affecting Children
We know that just over 22,000 children in
Staffordshire live in income deprived homes.
We know that families with disabled children
are disproportionately likely to be affected by
poverty and we know that there is a correlation
between some of the areas which are likely
to experience an increase in the numbers of
disabled children and where poverty is already a
significant problem.
There has been a corresponding rise in the number
of children and young people in receipt of a direct
payment over the last three years. Figures in 200809 showed there were 199 children and young
people in receipt of a Direct Payment, this rose to
291 in 2009-10 and has risen again in 2010-11 to
330. This shows an increase of 66% between 200809 and 2010-11. However, the numbers of children
accessing Direct Payments remains too small.
The current picture is dominated by adults with
learning disabilities living at home with parents
or relatives. There are significant numbers of
people living in residential or nursing care and
a minority of people live on their own with or
without support. It is our intention to change
this picture and to develop more supported/
independent living options to reflect/respond to
the wishes of people with disabilities.
Estimates of Future Prevalence
of Disability
The prediction that in Staffordshire we may see
a 1.6% rise in the numbers of people with severe
learning disabilities represents a significant
additional pressure and growth in demand. It
is vital that we work effectively with families
and our partners in order to enable families to
support their children to live the integrated lives
disabled people want to live.
Between 2008 - 2028, it is likely that the numbers
of disabled children and young people with
mild impairments will remain stable. (General
Household Survey). The numbers of children and
young people with a severe impairment is likely
to rise by 217 (1.6% increase). This is likely to be
due to improvements in both medical techniques
allowing more premature babies to survive and
improvements in care techniques allowing disabled
children to live longer. In 2004, Emerson and Hatton
(Estimating Future Demand for support services
for people with disabilities in England) predicted
that Staffordshire should have approximately 3,213
people with moderate to severe learning disabilities.
At present we support about 2,000 people with
such difficulties.
“Over 22,000 children in
Staffordshire live in income
deprived homes.”
As people have access to better health care that
means they will live longer, it is likely that we
will see an increase in the numbers of disabled
people living over 55. It will be important to
enable people with a disability to take care
of their health needs to enable them to live
healthier lives for longer.
Disabled people from BME backgrounds appear
to be under represented in our figures. There is a
need for more analysis to help us understand why
this is and to plan how to redress this imbalance if
there is a need to.
15
with learning disabilities via improved access to
health services which are developed around their
individual needs. A recent review of adult specialist
learning disability health services has highlighted
the need for change in local specialist health
provision. Currently we use traditional models
of service delivery, for example significant use of
expensive external placements, there are gaps
in some areas including supporting people with
autism and challenging behaviour and an over
reliance on bed based services.
What Does this Mean for
Staffordshire?
Our information on the needs of disabled
children, young people and adults is fragmented
and incomplete. We need to improve our
understanding, not only of need, but also of the
way in which people are accessing support across a
wide range of services and sectors to ensure really
effective planning for the future.
During the last five years there has been a
significant growth in the range of choice and
opportunities for disabled people. Families First
and Staffordshire Cares have offered good quality
information and an easy route to accessing support,
and there has been more emphasis on enabling
people to access universal services through
programmes such as ‘Aiming High’.
Staffordshire is supported by high quality
mainstream and Special Schools that play a key
role in raising aspirations and preparing young
disabled people for adult life. There are colleges
of further education able to meet the needs of
some young people with special needs but there
are gaps in the provision of local further education
for young people with more complex needs. This
is also the case for those over 19 requiring a varied
and comprehensive programme of personalised
learning rather than a specific qualification.
We have developed an innovative partnership
approach between commissioners, schools and
colleges which is developing new options but there
is still more to do.
There is a need to prioritise actions to address
the health inequalities experienced by people
16
The establishment of innovative models of
community support such as user led organisations
and work related opportunities have increased.
The range of community based opportunities is
being developed with and by people with learning
disabilities.
Traditionally, we have relied on specialist services
to support disabled people. However, by their very
nature these services may increase segregation
and create dependency. Special Schools are
providing excellent opportunities in safe, rewarding
environments that are designed to meet the
educational needs of disabled children, but this in
itself may be a barrier to disabled children being
seen as part of their local community. Similarly, in
adulthood, the over-dependence on residential care
and specialist day services, which are frequently
held in high esteem by carers as providing safe
environments, also contribute to a specialist ‘serviceled’ way of life. Alongside this is the proliferation of
different professions and roles, created with good
intentions, leading to an increasingly complex life
for disabled people and their families who are trying
to achieve a fulfilling and independent life.
Specialist services continue to have an important
part to play, but there is a need to rebalance the
way in which services are commissioned to reflect
the whole spectrum of support from universal
provision, early intervention and prevention, to
access to specialist services when needs cannot
be met elsewhere. Where specialist services are
required, commissioners must ensure that these
are measured in terms of how successful they are
in redirecting people towards universal services,
promoting choice, control and independence.
Our Strategic Vision
Our Vision
Our Vision for Disabled People highlights the importance to
disabled people and their families of: ‘Living My Life, My Way’
- where disabled people of all ages and their families are
included and play a full and active part in our community
as equal citizens.
We want to move the emphasis away from ‘fitting
people into a service’ towards empowering
disabled people and their families to take control
of the way in which they are supported in order
to achieve their own goals and develop inner
strength and resilience.
Our Approach
early help with access to specialist services only
where most needed. We know that people who
feel in control of their own lives are less likely to
become reliant on specialist help, are less likely to
feel dependent and are consequently more able
to assert themselves and reduce the likelihood of
vulnerability that results in abuse or poor care.
We will take a whole life - whole family approach
by working in an integrated way with all partners
to ensure we meet need in a joined up way,
linked to an holistic assessment.
Our vision for people applies to all 830,000
people who live in the county and is illustrated
in the diagram over page. Disabled people and
their families are at the heart of this vision and it
is our intention to make sure that disabled people
have equal access to all community activities and
buildings at the universal end of the spectrum
that their non disabled peers take for granted.
Our approach is outcome focused and
emphasises the importance of accessing
universal services – those services that are
available to everyone e.g. health, housing,
schooling, further education and leisure. It places
importance on the provision of high quality
information, advice & guidance, prevention and
17
Leadership and Culture
Access and make
use of universal and
preventative support
Access and make
use of information, advice
and guidance
Re
Identify and manage
problems early on
silience
Build and
shape communities
Require less targeted
and specialist support
Safe
Personal responsibility
and self care
Independent
Educated
Responsible
Informed
Access and make use of
excellent care and support
Healthy and well
EVIDENCE, NEEDS, OUTCOMES
As commissioners we will achieve change by
working in partnership to deliver our priorities and
better outcomes for disabled people. We have a
number of principles that are important to us.
We Will:
Work in close partnership with District and
Borough Councils, via our strong links to District
Commissioning Leads, to shape the way in which
the wide ranging opportunities and services they
provide are fully accessible to disabled people.
Hand over control and work with disabled people
and their families to make sure that we develop
strong, trusting relationships based on mutual
respect and equal value.
Work with schools and in particular, Special
Schools to make sure children and young people
get the best education that prepares them for
adulthood.
Commission an integrated, holistic assessment
and person centred planning service for disabled
children, young people and adults (incorporating
social care, education and health). This service
will support people with complex disabilities to
achieve their individual aspirations and goals by
developing their own Person Centred Plans.
Work with Early Years and Children’s Centres to
make sure that universal services are available to
disabled children and their families.
Ensure disabled people get the support they
need in their local community.
Promote and implement the use of Personal
Budgets (Direct Payments or Managed Budgets)
for everyone who is eligible for social care funded
support.
Develop a Staffordshire Prevention, Early
Intervention and Wellbeing model to enhance
our commissioning approach.
Work more closely with disabled people and their
families and providers to co-produce the simplest
possible solutions to achieve the outcomes that
disabled people and their families want.
18
Ensure that disabled people feel safe and are
protected from abuse, crime and neglect.
Ensure that we take account of the difficult
circumstances that disabled children can live in,
for example due to poverty.
Develop integrated commissioning approaches
for disabled people of all ages with CCGs and
health trusts to make sure we are achieving good
outcomes that meet local need.
Focus on ‘doing the right thing’ and helping
disabled people achieve good outcomes rather
than whether we ‘did it right’ in terms of ticking
boxes.
Develop robust ways of understanding local
need and then acting on this information.
 Appoint a single lead commissioner who will
be accountable for delivering this ambitious
programme of change. This will ensure
consistency, remove artificial ‘age based’ barriers,
but will not dilute our focus upon high quality,
age appropriate services which recognise the
distinct needs of disabled children, young people
and adults.
 Ensure the workforce that supports children
and young people has the skills, expertise and
information to work effectively.
 We will develop more joint, aligned and
integrated commissioning with CCG’s and other
partner organisations to achieve better outcomes
for disabled people.
 Ensure that people with disabilities are involved
in the development of Information, Advice &
Guidance services.
“We will ensure that
disabled people feel safe
and are protected from
abuse, crime and neglect”.
The Shire Hall multi sensory room
19
Who is this Strategy for?
A focus on the All and the Few
The Council wants to build resilience in individuals, families
and communities. Outcomes are therefore tailored to the
needs of disabled people and their families, whether they are
part of the wide group of ‘all’ disabled people or the ‘few’ who
require additional more specialist support.
We have identified a pathway of need that reflects the various needs of all Staffordshire’s
people and this includes disabled people and their families.
Access, information and advice: Access to excellent information and advice in a range of
media and available in a broad range of places e.g. Staffordshire Cares, Purple Pages, Youth
Box, You find me, schools, districts, GP surgeries; to provide people with the information
they require to meet their needs.
Universal services: Access to and availability of high quality universal support that helps
people to better meet their needs e.g. safety, transport, housing, education, play.
Prevention and early help: Access to and availability of high quality support that prevents
the escalation of need and meets needs via simple solutions as they are identified and arise.
Usually provided by universal services and the voluntary and community sector.
Early intervention: High quality intervention where there has been a need recognised
and assessed. Provided by a range of professionals from universal services, the third and
voluntary sector and statutory services e.g. the Council, NHS, Police.
Targeted and specialist support: High quality intervention through specialist and
statutory services, based on a specialist assessment of need and the development of a clear
plan of support. Usually led by statutory services in partnership with universal services:20
All disabled people and their families will need
access to high quality information and advice and
universal services.
We know we still have some work to do to make
sure our information, advice and guidance is
accessible and of high quality. To this end we will:
Most disabled people may need prevention and
early help at some point in their lives. Where a
family or individual has identified a specific need,
early intervention may be required which will
be accessed via a single holistic assessment and
support plan.
Create a ‘People Gateway’ that supports
disabled people, their families and carers and
professionals to access high quality information,
advice and guidance easily and quickly.
A few people will need specialist intervention
through specialist or statutory services. Some
disabled people with the most complex needs will
always depend on others to help them access the
lives that the rest of us take for granted. It is our
expectation that if additional support is required,
this will be delivered in the least intrusive way
whilst meeting need, achieving better outcomes
for disabled people and their families and
providing good value for money.
Establish and develop an Access Information
and Advice (AIA) network across Staffordshire
to develop a service that cuts across all of the
pathways identified above.
Develop Staffordshire Cares to provide a whole
life-whole family approach
In order to develop the three areas outlined above,
we want to work with disabled people and their
families to make sure that we know what is already
working well, what needs improving and how we
will measure whether we have made a difference.
21
Outcomes for Disabled People, Our
Strategic Priorities, and Our ‘Offer’
This Strategy is first and foremost focussed upon the person.
It places the disabled person and their family in control. It
emphasises the wide range opportunities and accessible high
quality services, and support that need to be available to
support disabled people to live full and fulfilling lives.
Our customer insight, from a variety of sources, has helped us to identify the things that are most important
to disabled children, adults and their families to enable them to achieve their goals. We call these outcomes.
The diagram below highlights some of the key outcomes which disabled children and adults have said
are important for them. Having clear outcomes that everyone can work towards is essential. In taking
forward this Strategy we will be asking disabled children, young people, adults and their families to
work with us to make sure that we get this right!
I lead a full and
healthy life
I have been
supported to learn
and achieve
I feel well informed
to make the right
decisions
I am able to make a
positive contribution
and I am included in my
community
I have access to the
same life chances as
everyone else
Living My Life,
My Way
I have a real choice and
wide ranging opportunities
that enable me to make
friends and enjoy life
I have real choice and
control in deciding
how I live my life
Myself and my family are
involved, listened to and
contribute to the shaping of
resources that directly affect us
I feel safe and
free from abuse,
harassment
and crime
22
We have used information about the outcomes
that matter most to disabled people and their
families to inform this Strategy. We have looked
at the national and local picture in terms of
what research is available to inform us. We have
thought about how we currently commission
and provide support and services. We have
worked with colleagues within social care,
health, education, psychological services and the
voluntary sector to find out what they think and
how we might do things differently.
We have brought this together under seven
overarching priorities that underpin this Strategy
and constitutes our ‘offer’ to disabled people in
Staffordshire.
In taking the Strategy forward, we recognise
the essential role of setting out the very clear
aspiration that disabled children and adults
should have access to the whole range of
opportunities that are available to everybody.
To achieve this we need to influence all partners
across the public, private and voluntary sector to
take responsibility for delivering these important
priorities – we call these ‘Influencing Priorities’.
In addition to this, Staffordshire County Council
has direct responsibility for the commissioning
and delivery of certain specific actions, we call
these ‘Specific Commissioning Actions’. These
are set out in Appendix One.
We will ensure that all disabled infants and young
children get the best possible start to their lives
e.g. access quality early years support, childcare,
educational provision; have access to appropriate
health advice; maintain family relationships; develop
friendships with their peers in their community and
are included in mainstream activities.
These are outlined below:
1. The Best Start in Life
The Best Start in Life is the most important
outcome.
This will mean that early help will be in place
through high quality day care and early years
opportunities for disabled children and their families.
Our commissioning intentions set out in detail, how
we will achieve this priority. These are set out in
Appendix One.
23
2. Lifelong Learning
Our vision for Staffordshire is that all children and young people (CYP) with Special Educational
Needs and Disability (SEND) receive the right support at the right time and in the right way so
that they are able to realise their aspirations and lead a fulfilling life.
It is also important for people with disabilities to access courses for leisure as they enjoy
learning new skills. Courses such as literacy, numeracy and independent living skills need to be
on going year upon year.
We will ensure that education, lifelong learning
and skills development is purposeful and results in
meaningful opportunities for those children and
young people with SEND and who are vulnerable.
We will work in partnership with parents, carers
children and young people, early years settings,
schools, colleges, employers, work based training
providers, charities, multi-disciplinary and
independent providers to ensure that the priorities
set out on the forthcoming SEND and Vulnerable
Groups Strategy (0-25) are delivered.
This will mean that early years settings, schools,
alternative provision, colleges and other
education settings and work providers will
prepare children, young people and their families
to ‘speak up’ and make choices for a fulfilling life
that is as independent as possible.
People with disabilities have told us
More should be done to support people with
disabilities to be a part of the community,
being supported to engage with mainstream
groups and activities.
Our focus is on early identification and support
to ensure that these children and young people
are identified and receive effective and bespoke
support at the earliest opportunity. Their families
will receive clear and comprehensive information
about the services available to them within the
‘local offer of support’. Access to effective support
is a ‘right’ not a ‘fight’. Children and young people
who have SEND and who are vulnerable will have
access to high quality:
 A
ssessment , plans, reviews and specialist
interventions.
 T eaching which leads to children and young
people making at least good and outstanding
progress.
 L earning opportunities which excite, inspire
and motivate.
24
 S eamless provision which enables children
and young people to have a full range of
opportunities that lead to a personalised
pathway bespoke to their needs.
 S taff who are trained, skilled and
knowledgeable in all aspects of learning,
emotional, social, physical, sensory,
communication and behavioural needs.
 P
rovision that is flexible, innovative, creative,
accessible ,quality assured and gives ‘best
value’.
 A
dvice and guidance throughout but
particularly at the important times of transition
from and within different settings as children
and young people move into adulthood and
employment.
 E ducation, health and care services that
are working in an effective multi and
transdiciplinary way planning together
for children and young people and their
families. This includes the effective sharing of
data, predicting needs and jointly planning
provision with common outcomes and
language.
Our commissioning intentions set out in detail,
how we will achieve this priority. These are set out
in Appendix One.
The forthcoming SEND Strategic Implementation
Plan will set out more detail about the specific
actions we will be taking to support children and
young people with Special Educational Needs.
3. Choice and Control
People with disabilities have told us
We need more time, information and support
to understand the options and choices being
offered and what this would mean for us
personally as people with disabilities or
carers. We need for information about what
services and activities are.
to ensure that disabled people are able to aspire
for and achieve their goals. This approach will
significantly improve the experiences of children
and young people as they grow into adulthood.
People with disabilities have told us
“I can’t make decisions without any
information” and “Choice and control is the
most important.”
All people with disabilities have a right to live the
lives they want to, we will ensure that disabled
people and their families are empowered and
enabled to do this.
Our commissioning intentions set out in detail,
how we will achieve this priority. These are set out
in Appendix One.
We know that many disabled people may need
some support to enable them to achieve what
they want to do in terms of their education, work,
health, housing etc. Some disabled people may
need significant support to make decisions on
their own behalf and will require support from
Advocates, families and carers to make sure they
can make choices and enjoy the best life they can.
4.1. Real Choice of Local Housing, Support &
Community Opportunities
We will support disabled people to improve
their own lives by ensuring that they are in
control of deciding how they are supported via
Direct Payments and Personal Budgets, ensuring
that they have equal access to all services and
increasing the range of opportunities available.
People with disabilities have told us
We think that having control over our own
support by using personal budgets is a good
thing for some people. We welcome the
greater choice and opportunities that are
proposed in this strategy.
The idea of pooling Personal Budgets is an
excellent proposition and an opportunity for
some creative thinking.
We will commission services that support people
to live in their communities, with access to ‘early
help’ and ‘simple solutions’ that build resilience,
prevent the loss of independence, and enable
people to develop skills.
We will commission an ‘all age’ assessment,
person centred planning and brokerage service
4. Community Opportunities
People with disabilities have told us
We want access to information about
services, groups and activities available
in local areas. We should have the same
opportunities as everyone else.
Living My Life, My Way is aimed at ensuring that
disabled people and their families have real
choice and control over the way they live their
lives. However, for some disabled people the
range of opportunities has been limited. The
actions set out in this Strategy are aimed at
reversing this.
This will mean that all disabled people will have
more choices, including the opportunity to live as
tenants in their own homes.
Disabled people will be able to choose from the
whole range of accommodation and support,
from ‘mainstream’ housing to transitional
accommodation that allows people to develop
independent living skills.
Our commissioning intentions set out in detail,
how we will achieve this priority. These are set out
in Appendix One.
A link to the Housing Support and Independence
Strategy will be provided once it has been ratified.
25
4.2. Work, Leisure, Friendships and
Opportunities
Our commitments are aimed at ensuring that
children and adults with disabilities have equal
access to health services, with prompt support
from high quality specialist services where
required.
People with disabilities have told us
As services are moved out of building bases,
we have less chance to mix with our peers and
friends regularly. Meeting up at a building
based service is critical for some people.
Disabled children, young people, adults and
their families say they want the opportunity to
live, learn, work and play and have the same
opportunities as their friends. We will work with
Partners to ensure that disabled people are
able to access the whole range of opportunities
available in their local communities.
This will mean that disabled children, young
people and adults will have access to a wide
range of community and leisure opportunities
which enable them to make friends, have fun, and
pursue their interests.
There will be an increase in the number and type
of opportunities for paid employment, voluntary
work, apprenticeships and work experience.
We will use our partnerships with the District
Commissioning Leads to maximise the opportunities
for people with learning disabilities as part of the
District Economic Regeneration programmes.
Our partnerships with schools will support the
provision of out of school activities, holiday clubs
and integration.
Our commissioning intentions set out in detail,
how we will achieve this priority. These are set out
in Appendix One.
5. Good Health
Good health is important to everyone. For those
people who have more complex needs it is vital
that their needs are met in a way that enables them
to fully participate in every aspect of their lives,
especially where this enables children with complex
health needs to achieve their educational aspirations.
Our analysis has shown that people with learning
disabilities, in particular, experience significant
health inequalities. We will work with Clinical
Commissioning Groups, Public Health and NHS
Providers to deliver improved outcomes.
26
Our commissioning intentions set out in detail,
how we will achieve this priority. These are set out
in Appendix One.
The Integrated All Age Community Care Strategy
lays out how those people living with long term
conditions in Staffordshire will be supported
to stay healthy thus reducing the likelihood
of developing a long term condition or slow
disease progression, and how services will be
personalised and delivered closer to home.
Poor life chances lead to the major causes of
poor health in our communities and to health
inequalities. This includes unemployment, poor
housing, education and unhealthy lifestyles such
as obesity and smoking which, can all contribute
to the early onset of a long term condition.
A link to the Integrated All Age Community Care
Strategy will be provided once it has been ratified.
6. A Strong Voice for Disabled
People & Their Families
People with disabilities have told us
The outcome based assessments and support
planning place us at the centre which will
ensure that our voice is heard and that our
carers, family and friends are involved.
We will move from listening to disabled people
and their families to valuing and supporting their
right to be in charge of how their own support is
planned and delivered.
This will mean that disabled people and their
families will be in charge of their own support
and have a strong voice in how things are
delivered locally. Disabled children and adults
will be supported, by self advocacy organisations
to ‘speak up’, and make choices about their
lives. Disabled people and their families will
have a range of opportunities such as Family
Group Conferences, Speaking Up Days, and Self
Advocacy Groups, to shape the direction of travel.
People with disabilities have told us
One of the key issues that always crops up
as a barrier when consulting children and
parents is the knowledge, experience and
skills of Universal providers and feeling
confident to trust and leave the child in their
care. Work has been done around this but
there is still more that can be achieved.
Our commissioning intentions set out in detail,
how we will achieve this priority. These are set out
in Appendix One.
7. Staying Safe
We will enable all disabled people to live safer
lives and will protect the most vulnerable.
Disabled people will weigh up and manage risk
and make their own decisions about the actions
they wish to take where this is possible. Staying
safe encompasses a variety of areas including
personal safety, safety in the home, safety from
road traffic accidents, safeguarding from abuse
and neglect and the impact of Hidden Harm
where a parent or carer is misusing alcohol or
drugs. We also know that Young Carers or Adult
Carers are in need of support in their own right
to ensure that their needs are met and a separate
strategy is in place for them.
People with disabilities have told us
We are concerned about hate crime
happening to people with disabilities and
suggest people have special alarms to make
them feel safer. Different areas of the County
have different problems and not everywhere
is the same.
It is important that we consider the needs of
all disabled people to be safe in all areas of life.
We know that it is important to have a balance
between keeping people safe and making sure
they have opportunities to take considered risks
and to grow and develop.
We know that children and adults with disabilities
are more vulnerable than the general population.
Some disabled children and adults are more likely
to suffer abuse and neglect and they are more
likely to be bullied and suffer hate crime.
We know that making disabled people active
members of our community who are regularly
seen out and about and are part of the fabric
of normal life will reduce stigma and enhance
opportunities for disabled people.
We want to make sure that disabled people in
Staffordshire are free from bullying, road traffic
accidents and accidents in the home We want all
disabled people to be able to access safe play and to
demonstrate and expect safe behaviour from others.
Whilst all partners will work proactively, focusing
on preventing the escalation of situations that
lead to concerns for the safety of each child or
vulnerable adult, we will always recognise and
prioritise the need for high quality, responsive
services that protect the vulnerable child from all
forms of neglect and abuse. This may mean that
the numbers of children who are subject to a Child
Protection Plan does not initially reduce, as we
work to more accurately identify needs. It will mean
that children are subject to a Child Protection Plan
for the minimum possible time whilst ensuring
they are safe from abuse and neglect. That there
will be robust universal and early help services that
enable children to maintain their involvement in
such services whilst also being subject to a Child
Protection Plan. This will ensure that children
whose names are removed from a Child Protection
Plan maintain continuity of support and care from
lower tier services and facilities.
We will ensure that all disabled children are able
to thrive and benefit from family life. We will work
with families to provide support through a variety
of opportunities including Aiming High to make
sure children’s needs can be met at home.
However we recognise that, just like their nondisabled peers, for some disabled children this
might not be possible. We will ensure that we take
proactive steps to ensure that disabled children
who cannot live with their birth family have the
same opportunities to be part of a loving foster or
adoptive family and maintain contact with their
birth family where possible.
Our commissioning intentions set out in detail,
how we will achieve this priority. These are set out
in Appendix One.
27
How Well are we
Delivering the Strategy?
It is essential that we know whether we are achieving the
outcomes we have identified in this Commissioning Strategy.
We need to be able to identify what we are doing well and
where we need to take action to improve our performance.
We will judge whether we have been successful
by what disabled people and their families tell us
about how satisfied they are with their lives; by
how well peoples needs are met by mainstream
and commissioned services and whether we are
making a difference.
We will work hard to make sure we use this
Strategy as a basis for measuring whether we
are achieving the outcomes we have set; by
setting outputs that are easy to understand,
purposeful and measurable and by looking at
some wider indicators, for example in relation to
the integration of disabled people as citizens in
Staffordshire.
There remains a lack of consistent data around
disability both at the local and national levels, to
help address this. It is important that information
on the needs of disabled children and young
people is collected and collated accurately to
allow for effective planning and commissioning.
We will ensure management of performance,
progress and achievement.
Partnership, Governance and
Performance Management
This Strategy can only be delivered by working
in partnership across Staffordshire. We will
ensure robust commissioning governance
arrangements through the Health and Wellbeing
Board and through excellent outcome setting and
performance management with commissioned
services.
We will maintain our status as a learning
organisation, responsive to our customers,
inspectors and peer reviewers.
It will be vital for us to measure what we do
against a range of criteria such as inputs and
outputs; performance indicators, outcomes; user
feedback; locality based and Staffordshire wide
performance indicators etc.
We have set out how we will assess progress
and measure success against each of our 7 Key
Priorities in Appendix Two.
“We need to be able to identify what we are doing well
and where we need to take action”.
28
Commissioning
Delivery
We will capitalise upon our excellent links with
CCGs, District Councils, the Private and Voluntary
Sector and other partners, taking advantage
of the opportunity to deliver integrated
commissioning and maximise the accessibility
and availability of universal services.
This is a Commissioning Strategy, but it is
reliant upon high quality providers to rise to the
challenge and ensure that their services are of the
highest quality, and delivering excellent outcomes
for disabled people.
We will maximise choice and control, build
capacity and quality and ensure value for money
across all partners.
Engagement
As part of the work to develop this Strategy,
we asked a group of 200 people with learning
disabilities to tell us what they thought. We would
like to thank the Staffordshire User Parliament, they
rose to the challenge. They told us some of their
ideas, what they thought we had got right, what
needed to be improved. We have already taken
these ideas on board.
Universal services and those services that
support people to access mainstream services,
and prevent loss of independence are vitally
important. As part of this Strategy, we will work
with our partners to ensure that all universal
services are accessible to people with disabilities,
and to develop the market high of services that
offer high quality prevention and early help.
For those people who do require more
intensive ongoing support, we will commission
‘Independent Futures’ a dedicated service that
provides integrated assessments and Person
Centred Plans for people with disabilities of all
ages.
We will have consulted on this Strategy with
disabled children, and adults and their families, with
schools and other professionals, and our partners
across all sectors. It is vital that we get this right.
“The Learning Disability
Partnership Board will hold
us to account.”
The Learning Disability Partnership Board and
Aiming High Board will hold us to account.
29
Next Steps
We want to get this right. This means ensuring that disabled
children, young people, adults and their families are fully
signed up to this Strategy – and the priorities that need to be
taken forward. We will consult, engage, listen and act upon the
views of disabled people and their families.
We have undertaken a comprehensive
engagement consultation process that has given
disabled people the opportunity to shape the
Strategy. We will now move forward to develop a
detailed Implementation Plan for taking forward
this important agenda.
As a commissioning organisation, Staffordshire
County Council commits very significant resources
to meeting the needs of disabled children, young
people and adults, their families and carers. This
Strategy seeks to ensure that these resources are
deployed to maximum effect – to deliver positive
outcomes for people whilst optimising value for
money. The Staffordshire approach is committed
to working with our citizens and partners
across every local community to deliver better
opportunities for all disabled children, young
people and adults, including a range of agencies
and sectors. We are embarking upon a radical
strategic change programme to move resources
from residential and buildings based provision to
more innovative community based alternatives
that promote genuine choice, independence and
high quality personalised outcomes.
“We will put the disabled
person at the centre
of our strategy”.
30
We recognise that disabled people will need
help at different points in their life and we will
ensure that the relevant information, advice and
guidance and early help is available when they
need it. We will put the disabled person at the
centre of our Strategy and set out a clear and
consistent vision, with outcomes that will enable
each disabled child, young person and adult to
live a full, healthy and independent life.
Appendix One
The following section sets out, in detail, how we will
achieve our 7 key priorities.
1.The Best Start in Life
Action to be taken
Influencing Priorities
We Will:
disability focussing on progression throughout
school and education to employment and
independent living.
We will work with providers, partners and
employers to consider innovative and
collaborative approaches to increase the local
provision offers for children and young people
particularly with regards to work training, work
experience placements and acquiring the skills
and knowledge necessary to be able to gain
employment.
Ensure ‘play and stay’ and other play
opportunities are available locally.
Specific Commissioning Actions
Ensure that playgrounds are inclusive.
Ensure that children and young people
who have SEND and who are vulnerable are
identified early and holistic Person Centred
Plans are developed with their families from
early years throughout their life.
Ensure that public transport is inclusive and
available.
Be clear that it is everybody’s business to make
sure disabled children are protected from harm
and feel safe.
Specific Commissioning Actions
We Will:
Identify disabled children early and ensure that
children and families receive the right support at
the right time.
Ensure there is enough ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’
day-care available for disabled pre-school
infants and children to enable parents who
want to return to work and to enable children to
develop and meet their milestones.
Ensure the availability of short break provision.
Identify those disabled children at risk of not
achieving their potential and make sure they are
supported to prevent this occurring.
Ensure the families of young children with
disabilities have access to advice, information
and guidance and early help if needed to
maximise their life chances.
Work to ensure all the services we commission
have a whole life - whole family approach so
that disabled people’s needs are met through a
single inclusive, holistic approach.
2. Lifelong Learning
Action to be taken
Influencing Priorities
We Will:We will encourage education providers to
improve local provision to cater for the differing
types and degrees of learning, emotional,
communication, sensory difficulty and/or
We Will:
We will develop a SEND and Vulnerable Groups
Strategy 0-25 to set out plans for high quality
early and earlier assessment, access to specialist
multi disciplinary interventions, personalised
curriculum and learning experiences, effective
organisation structure and outstanding
educational provision which achieves best value.
We will work to improve the quality of
information gathered about goals and needs,
by those working with children and young
people with SEND and who are vulnerable and
use the information gathered to plan the type
and amount of education, specialised support,
intervention and training provision required in
future years.
We will consult with those involved to develop
success and destination measures for Post
16 education and training providers who
deliver to learners with learning difficulties
and/or disabilities in order to ensure that the
effectiveness of provision can be evidenced.
We will show leadership, working in partnership
to develop a range of local high quality
education and training options focussing on
progression to employment and independent
living.
Work in partnership to ensure children’s health
and care needs are met including respite and
short break provision.
Work in partnership with schools and local
further education providers to put in place the
necessary support so that children and young
people with SEND and who are vulnerable have
the choice to learn within their local community
or close by wherever this is possible.
31
Ensure that adult education is available to
develop additional skills building upon how to
take control/be heard – all organisations that
support disabled people will sign up to this as
an overarching priority.
4. Community Opportunities
Ensure that children and young people are
able to communicate what is important to
them about their education and development
opportunities and a wide creative high quality
curriculum is developed as a result of this
collaborative approach.
Influencing Priorities
3. Choice and Control
Encourage young adults to envisage
independence from their parents as a possibility.
Action to be taken
Specific Commissioning Actions
Influencing Priorities
We Will:
We Will:-
Reduce the dependence upon residential and
nursing homes and increase the availability of
supported living options.
Increase the range of options across the lifespan
available at a local and wider level.
Specific Commissioning Actions
We Will:
Commission ‘Independent Futures’ an ‘all age’
assessment and person centred planning service
which will provide a single key-worker to act as
a point of contact for the individual, to help with
assessment, support planning and to review
how identified outcomes are being met and
help make any changes.
Continue to promote Personal Budgets where
people are eligible for paid support.
Strengthen the range of early help options and
‘simple solutions’ whilst continuing to look at
ways of preventing people entering into crisis.
Increase the numbers of people accessing
Personal Budgets dramatically with the
expectation that all disabled children and adults
who are eligible will have the opportunity for
either a Direct Payment or Managed Budget. We
will expect that a target of 90% be achieved by
2015.
Commission seamless services that support
disabled children and adults to identify and
achieve their aspirations and goals with a
natural progression to adult life.
We will commission services that focus upon
access to universal services, prevention, early
intervention by building upon the success of the
G8way and Community Connects services and
continuing to develop high quality navigation
or brokerage services that connect people to
opportunities in their own communities
32
(4.1) Real choice of local housing, support and
community opportunities
Action to be taken
We Will:Increase the range of housing options available
for people with learning disabilities. This will
include over 100 new units of accommodation
between 2011-2016.
Ensure that disabled people with complex
needs and challenging behaviour are
considered alongside their peers; both in
terms of short term preventative support, a
range of community based options and longer
term accommodation and support. We will
work in partnership with health colleagues to
commission community based services that
support people with challenging behaviour in
their own homes in order to manage crises and
prevent breakdown, and reduce the incidence of
emergency / crisis placements.
Promote the use of assistive technology to
increase people’s independence, dignity and
choice whilst helping to reduce direct input
from parents, carers or support workers.
(4.2) Work, leisure and friendship
Action to be taken
Influencing Priorities
We Will:Work in partnership with District and Borough
Councils to ensure that disabled people are able
to access the range of opportunities that are
available to everyone.
Ensure that disabled people are able to
participate in a wide range of leisure activities,
and commission innovative services such as
‘G8way’ and ‘Community Connects’ that focus
on prevention, early intervention and breaking
down barriers and connecting people to
opportunities
Ensure that those people with the greatest
needs are able to access their community and
support them to source activities and options in
line with their aspirations.
Identify opportunities for increasing
employment opportunities by building this as a
priority requirement as part of the procurement
of future services, and work in partnership
with colleagues in ‘Place’ to identify the
potential for incentivising the provision of more
opportunities for disabled people in mainstream
employment.
Work with the private and voluntary sector to
increase places for disabled children in clubs and
leisure activities such as uniformed organisations,
sports clubs and special interest groups.
Specific Commissioning Actions
We Will:
Commission short breaks for disabled children,
young people and adults that are designed to
give them a break and contribute to meeting
their outcomes through personal development,
life experiences and having fun
Explore opportunities for groups of friends to
‘pool’ their Personal Budgets to enable them
to take part in activities, hobbies and leisure
opportunities together.
Commission a wide range of high quality
alternatives to residential and day care centres
and improve the facilities available in the
community to enable disabled people to
become full citizens,
Commission a new employment support
service and ensure that these opportunities are
available to disabled people of all ages.
Increase the range and choice of opportunities
delivered by User Led initiatives that provide
work or work related opportunities – such as the
successful Café and Gardening schemes.
Work closely with providers to enable them
to strengthen their services in order to ensure
sustainability.
5. Good Health
Action to be taken
Influencing Priorities
We Will:Work with CCGs to ensure that there is a
comprehensive range of mainstream and
specialist health services available to sustain
and support people in their local community,
avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospitals
Work with Clinical Commissioning Groups
(CCGs) and Public Health to ensure that universal
primary health care support service for people
with learning disabilities is timely and effective.
Specific Commissioning Actions
We Will:
 E nsure each child and adult with complex needs
has a key worker who is able to coordinate and
ensure early intervention to meet their physical
health care needs
33
 R
ecognise and provide support to disabled
children, young people and adults to maintain
good emotional health and wellbeing alongside
specialist help when they have a mental illness.
 E nsure that services for children with Autistic
Spectrum Conditions and Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder are available and that
support remains consistent when they become
adults.
 C
ommission an integrated intensive support
team with a brief to work with people with
the most complex health needs to prevent
avoidable admissions to hospital.
 C
ommission integrated working between
community learning disability health staff and social
care to promote new relationships with mainstream
health, social care and community resources.
 E nsure disabled children and adults receive
prompt access to assistive technology, services
and equipment
 L isten to disabled people and their families and
work with them around their health priorities
including sex and relationships.
6. A Strong Voice for Disabled People
and Their Families
Action to be taken
Influencing Priorities
We Will:Ensure that disabled people are able to develop
and run user-led organisations
Develop high quality information, advice and
guidance that supports disabled people and
34
their families to make informed decisions and is
easily accessible.
Further improve ‘Purple Pages’ by working in
partnership with disabled people, their families
and, in particular schools, to develop an interactive
web-based ‘prospectus’ service that showcases the
exciting range of opportunities that people with
disabilities are accessing/leading.
Ensure equal access to universal services and
commission services that empower disabled
people to take action and support them to make
a difference.
Work in partnership with disabled people and
their parents and carers to ensure that they
play a key role in influencing the planning,
commissioning and delivery of service.
Specific Commissioning Actions
We Will:
 E nsure that disabled people and their families
are in control of their own support
 S trengthen Self Advocacy to ensure that
disabled people have a strong voice in how
services are developed and delivered locally
 E nsure that non family carers such as foster
carers are supported
 P
romote the use of Personal Budgets – including
the opportunity for friends to ‘pool’ their
resources
 R
ecognise the role of young carers and prioritise
the need to offer support to enable them to
have a childhood.
 R
ecognise the needs of adults who have
profound and multiple learning disabilities
(PMLD).
 D
evelop an infrastructure to support people
to identify and achieve their outcomes and
for a developed market of real choice and
alternatives.
Specific Commissioning Actions
7. Staying Safe
 E nsure that the right support is available at the
right time in the right place for all, including the
most vulnerable. For children this will mean a
CAF assessment.
Action to be taken
Influencing Priorities
We Will: C
reate and seize opportunities to develop
preventative initiatives through greater
partnership working with disabled people, and
their families.
 R
aise awareness, working in partnership with
District and Borough Councils, the Police,
Schools and a range of Partners to ensure that
disabled people feel safe at home and in their
wider community.
 W
ork with District and Borough Councils to
ensure safe and effective roads and transport
systems that encourage disabled people to be
able to safely use the roads and public transport
independently.
We Will:
 E nsure that all disabled people are protected
from abuse, neglect and crime
 E nsure early intervention in families where a
child is at risk
 A
dopt multi-agency approaches so families do
not have to tell their story over and over again
 I mprove systems to avoid clunky transitions
between services on the basis of our silo
classifications such as ‘health, education,
childhood and adulthood’
 E nsure that all vulnerable children and adults
have a single key worker/lead agency approach
– the disabled person or representative to
choose who this is
 E nsure the development of resilience and self
esteem to enable disabled people to make the
right choices.
35
“I like
to draw”
36
Appendix Two – Assessing Progress / Measuring Success
1. The Best Start in Life
3. Choice & Control
How will we measure success?
How will we measure success?
 Children’s needs are identified early.
Number of Personal and Managed Budgets
increases on an individual and ‘pooled’ basis to
90% by 2015.
Disabled children, young people and parents/
carers know where to go for help and advice.
Disabled children, young people and parents/
carers will receive the support they need, when
they need it.
The amount of quality, accessible day care
available increases.
Children and young people have secure
attachments to their families.
Children and young people have a positive view
of themselves.
The range of needs met through Personal
Budgets broadens.
Number of User or Carer led organisations
increases.
Number of person centred family led plans is
baselined in year one and every disabled person
who needs one has one.
Each child with complex needs has a key worker
who is able to coordinate all their needs
Children and young people have good
emotional health and wellbeing.
Disabled people and their families are satisfied
with their Person Centred Plans.
Children and young people are able to use the
education, emotional and social support they
need to maintain and improve their health.
Information, advice and guidance is available
through a variety of user friendly portals.
Choice and range of services available increases.
People feel empowered as individuals, families
and communities, to be responsible for their
lives and futures.
More disabled people live in their own homes.
2. Lifelong Learning
How will we measure success?
 T here will be an increasing range of local
high quality education and training options
focussing on progression to employment and
independent living.
Local further education providers to put in place
the necessary support so that disabled people
have the choice to learn within their local
community.
Universal activities provided by and on behalf
of the Council will ensure equality of access
for all and will be evidenced by increased
uptake. Other agencies will be persuaded and
influenced to widen their access criteria.
Numbers of FE colleges offering suitable
packages to disabled people increases
Special Schools and mainstream schools and
colleges in Staffordshire can demonstrate
holistic packages of care and appropriate levels
of support are provided for children/young
people, based on evidence of need.
A variety of accommodation and support is
available, including transitional accommodation
that allows people to develop independent
living skills. This range will include private
rented accommodation, housing through
local choice based letting and purpose built
accommodation. This will include over 100 new
units of accommodation between 2011-2016.
More severely disabled people are enabled to
live in their own homes.
The number of opportunities for paid
employment, voluntary work, apprenticeships
and work experience via targeted initiatives
increases.
Disabled people access opportunities in their
own localities, more local services are available
through co-commissioning and delivery
through District and Borough Councils.
We will keep people up to date with the latest
technological advances and utilise ground
breaking assistive technology.
More disabled people will use assistive
technology.
37
4. Community Options
(4.1) Real choice of local housing,
support and community opportunities
How will we measure success?
Increased range of accessible housing options
and supported living options.
Increased number of disabled people living
independently.
Disabled people have increased independence
skills.
Disabled people with complex needs and
challenging behaviour receive short term
preventative support and longer term
accommodation.
An increased number of disabled people with
complex needs and challenging behaviour
access community based opportunities.
Disabled people with challenging behaviour are
supported in their homes.
The number of emergency/crisis placements
decreases.
 Increased use of assistive technology.
 Public transport will be accessible.
A range of accessible play opportunities will be
available locally.
There will be an increase in the number of
accessible playgrounds.
5. Good Health
How will we measure success?
Improved access to local mainstream services
including enhancing annual health checks, and
Health Action Plans;
Increasing parental capacity/skills to enable
them to access employment or manage their
financial position.
Tier 1 and 2 support for emotional health and
wellbeing is available locally and people are
satisfied with the timeliness and quality.
Tier 3 and 4 is available on county wide basis
and people are satisfied with the quality.
Children with Autistic Spectrum Conditions
and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are
diagnosed early.
Disabled children can access appropriate
education without their disability or health
needs barring them from doing so.
Numbers of disabled people who have had
education and health support regarding sex and
relationships increase.
The number of disabled people using public
transport will increase.
(4.2) Work, leisure and friendship
How will we measure success?
Disabled children, young people and adults
access a range of short break and leisure
opportunities within their community.
Increasingly as part of universal services rather
than specialist disability services.
Increasing number of people access information
available on the Staffordshire Cares website on
managing medication and pain management.
People living with long term conditions who
require care and support will be supported by a
skilled workforce who are able to support with
the management of long term conditions.
Short breaks provided for disabled children,
young people and adults support personal
development as well as being fun.
6.A Strong Voice for Disabled People
& Their Families
Trained professionals and volunteers support
disabled people to access short breaks, leisure
opportunities and employment opportunities
within their community.
How will we measure success?
The number of employment opportunities
increases.
The number of disabled people in employment
increases.
 N
umber of events arranged to ensure that
disabled people are able to meet with their
peers, to be supported as well as to support
others and to ensure the voice of disabled
people in Staffordshire is heard and acted upon!
User Led initiatives provide an increased number
of work related opportunities.
 I ncrease the number of newsletters, and hold
regular briefing sessions that enable family
carers to shape the agenda, contribute to
improving outcomes, and drive up quality.
Increasing numbers of disabled people have
Direct Payments and use these to develop the
opportunities they want.
 F amily Group Conference (FGC) established as
vehicle for enabling disabled people and their
families to decide on their needs.
38
 N
umber of FGC’s is baselined in year one and
increases year on year.
 N
umber of self advocacy services that support
disabled children, young people and adults to
‘Speak Up’ and play a lead role in developing
services in their own communities is baselined
in year one and increases year on year.
Number of advocacy services on behalf of those
who are not ready or who are unable to self
advocate is baselined in year one and increases
in line with need on a year by year basis.
7.Staying Safe
How will we measure success?
Numbers of referrals/assessments/investigations
and Serious Case Reviews for adult safeguarding
and children’s safeguarding.
We will develop an in depth understanding of
the needs of disabled children and their families
thereby ensuring that only children who meet
the threshold for safeguarding are made subject
to a Child Protection Plan (CPP) and that they are
only subject to a CPP for the minimum length of
time required to improve relevant outcomes and
reduce risk to an acceptable level.
An increase the number of disabled people who
report feeling safe in their community (based
upon a comprehensive survey of ‘how safe do
you feel?’
Reported crime against disabled people may
actually be seen to increase as current reporting
is thought to be low, before longer term
reductions are evidenced.
The workforce will have the training, skills,
expertise and information to safeguard disabled
people.
Numbers of families with disabled members
accessing early help increases.
Number of disabled people who chose their
own key worker increases.
Reduced hospital admissions due to accidents in
the home.
Reduced numbers of road traffic accidents.
Increased recognition of the role of young
carers, and an increase in the number of young
carers who are receiving support.
Increase of adult carers receiving a carers
assessment.
Number of activities for disabled people
increases.
Number of disabled children reporting bullying
decreases.
39
Living My Life,
My Way:
A Strategy for
Disabled People in Staffordshire
2013 - 2018
Print and design by Staffordshire County Council, Print Commissioning Services. Telephone: 01785 276051
67945/10/13