Initiatives
[Initiatives]
[What you get for your money]
[Themes]
Community Inclusion
... including Supported Employment and Day Opportunities
What is it all about?
Real inclusion and independence in the community comes with real jobs and valued day activities and opportunities. Along with work comes money, social contacts, status, opportunities to develop skills and perhaps most important of all the chance to make friends. This 'Community Inclusion' theme recognises that however complex an individual's disability may be, having the opportunity and right to use one's abilities, talents and gifts and an active part to play in the community is essential to real inclusion and a life worth living.
Community Inclusion ... including Supported Employment and Day Opportunities is a programme of co-ordinated and comprehensive activities which are responsive to local circumstances. The programme embraces the need for policy influence and support to strategic and well planned change through partnership with those who commission and provide services; as well as providing direct, practical 'tools' for change for practitioners and people who use services on their particular journey towards inclusion. The theme is based on a number of guiding principles which underpin all the work of the NDT :
- Commitment to a life worth living.
- Belief in a common humanity.
- Commitment to leadership by and inclusion of all people with learning disabilities.
- Belief in community based lives.
- Belief in a continuous learning approach.
- Commitment to removing barriers.
- Commitment to positive outcomes for people with disabilities.
How will this be achieved?
The NDT would like to achieve Development Partnerships with up to eight organisations or localities who are interested to develop their day services or local project provision towards real jobs and supported day opportunities. Development Partners to this 'Community Inclusion' theme will automatically become part of what is already a dynamic programme of work including initiatives all over the UK and partnerships in Europe. There is a very active policy forum and regular positive contact at ministerial level. As well as the benefits described in our brochure Development Partners will have the following opportunities:
- to be at, and able to push forward, the leading edge of practice in this area with a national profile for your work.
- to learn from the outcomes and draw on the expertise of other major Supported Employment initiatives, including 'Changing Days' and 'Days of Change',
- 'Working Out' and much more.
- to influence policy at local and national levels.
- membership of relevant national networks.
- support for a 'tailor made' developmental approach which reflects local needs and priorities.
In addition, and following an opportunity to 'diagnose' the needs of local services and strategic planning for change, there will be a range of training, dissemination, staff and organisational development events on offer to Development Partners. We believe that with such a complex area of service and support development the ability to be in a partnership which can access a range of experience and knowledge is crucial.
There will be a full programme of national events such as conferences, seminars, workshops and action learning sets over the three years as well as opportunities to learn about day supports in other countries.
With all this on offer the NDT feels that it has found a way to achieve real change in services through sharing a journey of development that is cost effective and builds on growing local strengths.
 Download "Supported Employment and Economic Security"
(PDF file, 238 Kb. Right-click (PC) or click-hold (Mac) to Save.)
Last updated :
23 September 2001
[Home]
[Initiatives]
[Consultation]
[Policy]
[Events]
[Training]
[Publications]
[Links]
[NDT]
|
