Welfare Reform on the Web (February 2004): Services for the Disabled - UK

IMPROVING SERVICE APPROACHES AND OUTCOMES FOR PEOPLE WITH COMPLEX NEEDS THROUGH CONSULTATION AND INVOLVEMENT

L. Clare and S. Cox

Disability and Society, Vol. 18, 2003, p.935-953

In the context of an increasing emphasis on inclusion and involvement in health and social care, as demonstrated, for example, in the requirements of the single shared assessment process, there is a need to focus explicitly on ways of ensuring inclusion for people who have complex needs, including cognitive and communication difficulties. There is a danger that people with complex needs will be seen as too difficult to involve, and will therefore remain effectively excluded from the decision-making process and from the opportunity to influence service provision.

QUALITY INDICATORS: DISABLED CHILDREN'S AND PARENTS' PRIORITIZATIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF QUALITY CRITERIA WHEN USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF SUPPORT SERVICES

W. Mitchell and P. Sloper

British Journal of Social Work, Vol. 33, 2003, p.1063-1080

The paper discusses the service quality indicators proposed by disabled children and parents who took part in the Sharing Value Project. Sharing Value created a UK wide directory of support services commended by disabled young people and their families. Results show the need to look beyond generic service quality, as children and parents value different aspects of service quality and prioritise different indicators when using different types of services. Although some indicators are regarded as "core" quality indicators, irrespective of service type, others are only prioritised for specific types of services.