Equipped for Inclusion
Strategy Forum
The forum was set up to achieve a much needed sense of direction for equipment and adaptation provision following the findings of the Joint Future Group in their report Community Care: A Joint Future.
A wide range of interests was represented in the membership of the forum to reflect the span of the agenda and their findings were published in the report Equipped for Inclusion [June 2003]. This report should be read alongside its companion document Using the Law .
The strategic vision for equipment and adaptations goes beyond service provision and seeks to address current approaches to issues of equality in relation to illness, disability and getting older.
Four key areas were identified:
- Equipment and adaptations as part of every day life: the promotion of social justice through the mainstreaming of equipment and adaptations.
- Extending and sharing knowledge: by improving the information available and how it is provided, supported by advice and demonstration.
- A joint future: equipment and adaptations integrated with one another, integrated within community care, and across care groups through joint resourcing and joint service management, single shared assessment and care management.
- Assuring quality and innovation: by auditing and improving service standards, a knowledge base evidencing and evaluating the impact on people's lives and on other care services, and by encouraging and supporting innovation.
Consultation took place on 35 recommendations and 2 questions, responses to which are now being considered by the Equipped for Inclusion Advisory Group ( EFIAG). This Group will advise Ministers on how to take forward the work required.
Equipped for Inclusion Advisory Group
Membership
Minutes of Meetings
Since October 2006, the work of this group has been taken forward by the Equipment and Adaptations Advisory Group (EAAG).