Slides given at launch event for the development of Self-Directed Support in Northern Ireland.

1. Self Directed Support
in Northern Ireland
Dr Simon Duffy ￭ The Centre for Welfare Reform ￭ Belfast ￭
27th June 2012 ￭

2. Dr Simon Duffy
• 22 years working on reforming welfare
systems, especially with people with learning
difficulties and their families
• Invented Individual Budgets, RAS, SDS and
Keys to Citizenship.
• Works to support innovations in the design of
the welfare state to promote citizenship,
family, community and fairness.

3. Key messages
1.Make SDS your own
2.SDS is not Direct Payments
3.Keep it simple and clear
4.Include everyone in it
5.Use your Real Wealth

4. 1. Make SDS your own

5. SDS is not that new

6. international progress, but
no panaceas...
• Scotland, England, Australia, US,
Europe...
• much we can learn from the
developing world
• Challenge is to learn from others
• ...and do better

9. Place N Change
6 Sites Phase I Report 60 -18%
17 Sites Phase II Report 128 -9%
13 Sites IBSEN Report 203 -6%
Northants 17 -18.7%
City of London 10 -30%
Worcestershire 73 -17%

10. real problems in England
1.Hidden services, hidden budgets
2.Increasing bureaucracy & control
3.Poor engagement with community
4.Growing inflexibility
5.Poor use of service providers
nevertheless, momentum continues...

11. What is this really about?
Citizenship

12. think about citizenship...
Above all, I think the idea of
citizenship should remain at the centre
of modern political debates about
social and economic arrangements.
The concept of a citizen is that of a
person who can hold their head high
and participate fully and with dignity in
the life of their society.
Professor Jeremy Waldron

14. System spends
people’s money for
them on things
they wouldn’t buy
for themselves

15. Find your own language!
Do it the Northern Irish way

16. 2. SDS is not Direct Payments

17. But it really should build on
Direct Payments

18. Not Direct Payments,
because
1. It’s about entitlements - not cash
2. It’s about the right point of control
3. It’s about supporting decisions
4. It is not about employing staff
5. It is for everyone

19. clear entitlements - up-front

20. different ways to control a budget

21. returning to the values of social work

22. personalised solutions

23. universal system

24. Implementation should build
on expertise of Direct
Payments workers and
support systems

25. 3. Keep it simple and clear

26. 1. Entitlements - clear and quick
2. Rules - minimal
3. Systems - simple and efficient

27. Don’t RAS - use simple tiers
or existing budgets

28. right to be a citizen
“I have a right to live my life in a way that
1. Independent living - full access to makes sense to me”
ordinary life
right to enough
“I have a right to enough support and a
2. Entitlement support to achieve right not to be over supported”
citizenship
“I have a right to make decisions about
right to be in control how I live my life and to be supported by
3. Self-determination
of our own lives people who know me and love me to
make those decisions for and with me”
rules & systems “I have a right to be told clearly and
simply how the system works and how
4. Openness should be clear and any rules affect me; including how much
fair money I am entitled to for my support”
“I have a right to use my money in any
free to use our way that helps me to live my life;
5. Flexibility
money as we see fit including the freedom to take risks, make
mistakes and learn from them”
“I have a responsibility to share with
we should share
6. Learning others what I have learnt works for me
what we are learning and what doesn’t work for me”
“I have a right and a responsibility to use
we should each
7. Contribution my skills, talents and knowledge to play a
make a contribution full part as a citizen in my community”

29. Avoid layering systems on
systems, like
Sedimentary rock

30. SDS Processes
Support Planning
RAS
Care Management
Protection/Safeguarding Responsibilities
Annual Reviews
Joint Assessment Processes
Eligibility Criteria & Resource Panels
Care Planning
Monitoring Systems
Comprehensive Assessments
Mental Capacity Law
Social Care Law for Children and Adults

31. 4. Include everyone

32. social workers

33. schools

34. Jonathan’s story
For the 3 years before 150 days in hospital -
responding to problems with breathing.
In the 3 years after leaving hospital he has spent
only 2 nights in hospital - for elective dental
treatments.
Personalised learning - on the job - 2 City & Guilds
Qualifications.
Saving NHS, LA & Education
•Over £100,000 in hospital stays
•Over £300,000 in residential care costs
•Over £100,000 of funding contributed by the LSC

35. services

36. use Individual Service Funds

37. advocacy

38. people

39. The real innovators are
disabled people & their families
John O’Brien

40. 5. Use your Real Wealth

42. Real Wealth

43. from push to pull economics

44. flexibility creates efficiency

45. We need to recognise the Real
Wealth of our communities
Work with what you’ve already got

46. communities are not products

47. New money, training, jobs often
becomes a distraction
The real change is cultural -
playing by a new set of rules

48. You can’t start playing a new
game incrementally...
you must stop playing cricket
and start playing rugby...
even if (to begin with) you
don’t feel very competent.

49. A rabbi asked his students how they
could tell when the dawn had come and
morning prayers could be said. One
student responded by saying, “When
you can see the sheep on the hill.”
Another suggested that one can tell
that the dawn has come when a person
is able to distinguish between a fig tree
and a grapevine. “No,” said the wise
one. “It is dawn when you can look into
the faces of human beings and you
have enough light within you to
recognize them as your sisters and
brothers.”

50. For more information go to
www.centreforwelfarereform.org
These slides are © Simon Duffy 2012 ￭ Publisher is The
Centre for Welfare Reform ￭ Slides can be distributed subject
to conditions set out at www.centreforwelfarereform.org ￭

51. 1. What are people’s rights
2. How to take the fear away
3. Good places to extend SDS

52. Key themes for citizens:
1. Choice - what suits me
2. Equality - full participation in life
3. Freedom - it’s what I decide
4. Self-determination - the right to be in control
5. Person-centred - it’s about me, my plan, my
life and my community
6. Control - I’ve got the right to change my mind,
without permission

53. Key themes for professionals:
1. Use real stories - pivotal impact
2. Citizens are your best champions - in their own
communities and beyond
3. Take a leap of faith - start it, talk about it, use it
4. Keep it simple
5. Involve citizens in the system redesign
6. Encourage and engage real communities
7. Working with community assures sustainability

54. Good places to go next:
1. Full implementation - regionally
2. One set of rules for NI
3. Build on work of Southern Trust
4. Share user success stories
5. Focus on the positive impact in local economy
6. Promote sharing, training & awareness raising
7. Be clear and up-front now
8. Keep it simple
9. Promote by experience and example
10. Clear leadership and dedicated person in post
11. Use reviews in special schools