A presentation on User-Led Organisations. This was done at the NCASC 2012 in Eastbourne, done jointly with research in practice for adults and the Strengthening DPULOs Programme.

1. NCASC 2012: User-Led Organisations
and Social Care
Rich Watts, Strengthening ULOs Programme
Gerry Nosowska, research in practice for
adults

2. Overview
 Which problems are ULOs a solution to?
 What’s the evidence they’re a solution?
 You’ve convinced me: what do I do next?

3. The demand side: questions
you might be asking yourself
 What is a ULO?
 What do they do?
 How does this support me in my work?
 So?

4. What is a ULO?
 At least 75% of Management Board are disabled people
 At least 50% of staff are disabled people
 At least 50% of volunteers are disabled people
 Works from the social model of disability perspective
 (Or working towards the above)
 Around 350
 Significant variation
 Across the country
 In shape and size
 How can commissioners be expected to work with organisations
which they might not even know are there?

5. What problems are they a
solution to? (1)
 ULOs do the voice side of things very well
 Local Involvement Networks: saved £4.30 for every £1 invested
 Community development: saved £3.80 for every £1 invested
 POET survey: good support for navigating the care system vital
 ODI’s Support, Advocacy & Brokerage Project
 People have more control over their care and support
 People feel they achieve more through their care and support
 Demos Counting the Costs report
 Examples of coproduction to make difficult decisions
 Mitigates or minimises effects of these choices

6. What problems are they a
solution to? (2)
 IAG – 89% of all people who went through a peer-led IAG
service took up a DP, compared to 13% nationally
 Support planning – 100% of all people who went through
peer-led approach took up a DP, compared to 17% locally
 Peer-led approaches save money
 Leeds User-Led Crisis Centre – saves £28k/year by reducing
acute hospital days
 Support, Time & Recovery peer-led model – saved £120k/year
 More complex referrals in a more personalised way
 Disability hate crime reporting – higher incidence
 Healthwatch, employment, housing etc.
 Three in five people (59%) trust services more

7. Example:
Disability Equality North West
We are a base
for disabled
people to
access
anything, we
are a good
place to start.

8. Strengths
We inhabit and
work in the gaps
between other
services

9. Examples
Volunteer bureau
Diversity Arts
Festival
Help Direct
One-to-one
support planning

10. How local authorities can help
Working more
closely together,
more as human
beings, would be
good

11. The supply side:
ULO challenges
 Independence
 Professionalisation
 Building constructive, positive relationships whilst also
being a critical friend and staying true to your values
 Recognising PBs and personalisation represent an
opportunity
 As well as…
 Governance
 Business skills
 Linking with other relevant organisations

12. What can be done?
 Significant commissioning options
 E.g. reserving contracts (Article 19)
 Contracts for voice-related work
 Work together to deliver value for money at a time
of austerity
 Strategic partnerships (incl secondments)
 Health & Wellbeing Boards and local HealthWatch
organisations
 Section 106 agreements

13. What support is available?
(1)
 Strengthening ULOs Programme
 15 local Ambassadors
 £3m Facilitation Fund specifically for ULOs
 Key is to focus on sustainability
 Chance to develop ideas to put them into practice
 http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/dpuloprogramme
 www.facebook.com/dpulos
 Twitter - #dpulo

14. What support is available?
(2)
 ripfa work
 Key Issues publication on ULOs
 Strategic Briefing
 Customer Guide
 Dedicated website section on ULOs
 Support for organisational change
 Forum and network support
 http://www.interactive.ripfa.org.uk/
 www.ripfa.org.uk

17. Thanks and contact details
 Gerry Nosowska
 Research & Development Manager, ripfa
 gerry@ripfa.org.uk
 01803 847262
 Rich Watts
 National Lead, Strengthening ULOs Programme
 richard.watts1@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
 07595 345235
 Twitter – @rich_w