Annual Report and Accounts 2009-10 - Welfare Reform impact ...

A new advisory group now supports
our Trustees and management
team. This group – made up of
users, representatives from userled
organisations and Trustees with
personal experience of disability
– gives advice on consultation and
communication with users and
other shareholders.
We have introduced operational
plans to meet with users and local
authorities on a monthly basis.
Also in the pipeline is more strategic
engagement with local authorities
and disabled people’s organisations
to discuss and implement future
policy. Our new database, also
set up this year, helps us stay in
contact, and our new protocol for
meetings ensures accessibility for
disabled people.
Our assessors revisit new users
early on with the introduction of
half-year reviews. Having listened
to concerns raised by users, we
introduced application reviews after
six months as well as the regular
reviews every two years.
This has been a real success in
supporting our users, particularly
when they first receive funding.
Our new dignity and diversity
strategy this year embedded
our commitment to equality in
all that we do. We continue to
support cultural change within our
organisation by challenging attitudes
and building a workforce committed
to equality of opportunity.
We are also committed to
improving our understanding
of our many users and the
requirements of disabled people
to live independently.
The dignity and diversity strategy
is now embedded in our learning
and development plan.
This year we have included our
users in our work in as many ways
as possible including involvement
in our annual conference. It was the
first time we had held such an event
and many of our users helped us
deliver the event.
Application
reviews after
6 months.
and ongoing
reviews every
2 years.
18 Independent Living Fund (2006)