The Report “Time to Move on from Congregated Settings – A Strategy for Community Inclusion” proposes a new model of support in the community moving people from Congregated settings to the community in line with Government policy. The Report identifies that around 4,000 people (based on the 2008 census) with disabilities in Ireland live in congregated settings, defined as a residential setting where people live with ten or more people. It found that not withstanding the commitment and initiative of dedicated staff and management, a significant number of people were still experiencing institutional living conditions where they lacked basic privacy and dignity and lived their lives apart from any community and families. The HSE has established a National Implementation Group on Congregated Settings under the auspices of the National Consultative Forum, which is comprised of representatives from the HSE, Disability Umbrella Groups and service user representative organisations. This group is developing the implementation plan that will be rolled out at a regional and local level in full consultation with the appropriate stakeholders.
The implementation of the report poses significant challenges to many stake holders, including clients, families, disability service providers, the HSE, various Departments, statutory bodies and representative organisations. It will require a need for a major change programme. This radical change is not the sole responsibility of the HSE but rather a collaborative responsibility shared between the person with a disability, their family and carers, a multiplicity of agencies, the Government and society as a whole. To ensure the needs of people transitioning from congregated settings are fully taken into account during the process, the model of care for individuals will be based on a person-centred plan. This may change over time in line with an individual's needs and circumstances and the model of service delivery applicable at a particular time. The Report recognises a seven-year timeframe for the implementation of its recommendations. However, this timeframe should be treated with caution as there are a number of complexities involved due to multidimensional elements of implementation including, individual choice of accommodation, living arrangements and location, funding, and the future role of staff, training and skill mix.
The National Housing Strategy for People with Disability 2011-2016 provides for Government policy in relation to the deinstitutionalisation of people with physical, intellectual and mental health disabilities. This Strategy forms part of a coherent framework, in conjunction with the Government's mental health policy, A Vision for Change and the Report of the HSE Working Group on Congregated Settings, to support people with disabilities within communities with maximum independence and choice. As part of this process, some €1 million has been transferred from the Health Vote to the Housing Vote to provide for the ring-fenced social housing costs of up to 150 people leaving disability or mental health institutions in 2013. Those units will be additional to the overall social housing supports which are expected to be delivered through all supply mechanisms in 2013. As the specific queries about Cheshire Homes raised by the Deputy are service issues, they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
