AP Election Survey 2024: TDP-Janasena-BJP Alliance Set To Sweep Victory
What is a Service Provider?
1. What is a service provider?
Workshop by Dr Simon Duffy for NDS in South Australia,
2 December 2014 in Adelaide
2. Dr Simon Duffy
I’ve worked at developing systems of self-directed support for 25
years, working as a service provider and working with (and against)
government. My training is in philosophy and my practice has
involved an on-going effort to think about why we do what we do.
After working on individualised funding in early 1990s I developed
Inclusion Glasgow - an innovative service provider in 1996. In 2003 I
led In Control and developed the model of self-directed support
which was (to some extent) adopted by the English government.
In 2009 I set up The Centre for Welfare Reform as hub for social
international social innovation and a platform for challenging injustice.
I am currently involved in various campaigning efforts in the UK to
combat the way ’austerity’ is targeting people with disabilities and
people in poverty.
3. • Overview of self-directed support
• UK experience
• The potential roles for ‘providers’
• The ‘provider problem’
• Potential pathways
• Reflections on NDIS
4.
5. brief history of self-direction
• Began in California
1960s (c. 50 yrs!)
• Progress real, slow
and patchy
• Outcomes always
positive
• Efficiency & cost-control
are variable
• Design details really
matter
• Resistance to change
high
32. • Better targeted support
• Different kinds of support
• Community connections
• Natural support
• Teaching
• Technology
• Getting housing right
• Lower management costs
• Lower salary costs… not in these examples
39. At their best providers are
points of wisdom. So how have
providers become ‘a problem’?
40. • Ideological rhetoric around markets?
• Vested-interest of commissioners?
• The increased detachment from community?
• Increased wage differentials and profit?
• Associational with institutional provision?
41. How can we help rebuild
healthier relationships?
42. • Genuine commitment to partnership
• Rootedness in community
• Platform for peer support or self-advocacy
• Accountability for real outcomes
