Disability Services Commission Annual Report

2.2 Service Reports — Accommodation Support
In an ongoing effort to recognise the achievements and valuable work of staff, an
ASD Awards program was implemented. Monthly awards are presented to teams
and individuals and nominations are encouraged from people with disabilities, their
families and friends. As a Registered Training Organisation, the Commission’s
Learning and Development Branch continued its training programs. During the first
quarter of 2008, the branch trained 175 internal direct care staff and 24 external staff.
During the year, the Commission continued to redevelop some of its accommodation
facilities to achieve accessible housing options for older people with intellectual
disability. As part of this, 12 people with disabilities were relocated from Bennett
Brook to new accommodation in Maddington, High Wycombe and Belmont. The
tender to build new accommodation for Dorset Hostel in Armadale was awarded and
site works have started. In addition, the redevelopment of supported accommodation
services was completed with 38 people with disabilities moving into alternative
accommodation options.
Providing additional accommodation support continued to be a focus during 2007–
2008 with extra funding secured for 119 people with disabilities. This included eight
people being supported as part of the Young People in Residential Aged Care
program. In addition, 19 individuals received accommodation support through
vacancies.
A four-year pilot program to provide flexible levels of support to assist people with
rapidly degenerating conditions to live at home commenced in 2008. The Multiple
Sclerosis Society of WA successfully tendered for the program.
Over the past 12 months, the Commission has undertaken extensive consultations as
part of the development of the Community Living Plan. The impetus for the plan
came out of the 4Sector Health Check, which was released in May 2007. A paper has
been prepared outlining a wide range of alternative community living options for
people with disabilities.
Other key achievements in 2007–2008 included the evaluation of outcomes of the
Building Our Workforce project, which promotes working in the disability sector, and
completion of the first stage of a review focusing on a resource allocation instrument
for accommodation support funding. A partnership was developed with the
Department of Child Protection to address cross-departmental issues and funding
was provided to assist family support associations across the State.
Looking Forward ‣‣‣
In 2008–2009, we will:
continue redevelopment of Commission accommodation facilities at Bennett
Brook and Dorset to achieve accessible housing for older people with
disabilities;
commence redevelopment of the Commission’s high support hostels to achieve
better amenity and facilitate more individualised service;
Disability Services Commission Annual Report 2007–2008 29