This paper, based on work by organisations in the North West, looks at how providers and commissioners can work together to develop individually designed services at a time of reducing resources.

The authors assert that from the early days of normalisation, to the supported living movement, to the present move towards self directed support, the increasing importance of personal relationships and community participation has been recognised.

The present reality is that many services are based on the notion of all support being provided by teams of paid support staff. Many would agree that this reliance on paid support can often limit the creation of wider relationships and genuine community participation.

The authors suggest that there is a need for a concerted push around developing alternatives to just paid support, promote better outcomes for people and be in control of our own destiny as funding reduces.

Download: Altogether NOW Collectively figuring out how to develop alternatives to just paid support