Helpline and platform on personalised care

Organization
Disability Rights UK
Country of Implementation
United Kingdom
Region
Europe
Subregion
Western Europe
First published
31.01.2015

The project provides advice and information on community-care direct payments, creating an individual budget, securing social service funding, and employing personal assistants. A free download area on the website and a bi-monthly newsletter share personal stories and Q&A sections with a broad audience.

Credit: Disability Rights UK

Solution details

People

Michael PAUL
“We deliver a knowledge-sharing platform on personalised care to allow disabled people to access the same rights and opportunities as their non-disabled peers.” Michael PAUL, Advice Services Manager, Disability Rights UK

Problems Targeted

Financial cuts to local and national services mean there are gaps not only in knowledge of community- care direct payments, personal budgets, etc. but also in where to find information and support on how to apply for such personalised service assistance.

Solution, Innovation and Impact

Factsheets are provided free via the website, giving detailed information on community care, possible funding for non-residential accommodation, community-care direct payments, and for complaining about local authority decisions. In addition, personal advice and information is offered by telephone or email, and Q&A examples are shared in bi-monthly newsletters. Approximately 25 percent of recipients are advisers from member organizations, which have a wide reach themselves. Disability Rights UK also writes the Independent Living sections of the Disability Rights Handbook – the ‘benefits bible’ – which sells more than 13,000 copies per annum. In the near future, online forums will be introduced to further enhance communication and information sharing.

Funding, Outlook and Transferability

Since the service is quite simply set up, it can be easily replicated; and use of online services means information is easily updated and shared. New issues are highlighted through the Q&A sections of the newsletter and website, helping disabled people and their networks to be proactive.

Media

Related information

Connections
2

Solutions with the same:

Country of Implementation

United Kingdom

Region of Implementation

Europe