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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2309 ..

5

The policies are supported by a plain English guide. This guide - "Living with Independence" - explains, in simple language, the key operational policies. Seven people with disabilities and their support workers were involved in the editing of the guide.

Publication of a guide of this type will make policies more accessible to consumers, and in addition it can be used by parents and staff as a resource tool.

In my last Statement I informed this Assembly of the intention to introduce service agreements with all consumers.

Work is progressing apace on this project, with a Discussion Paper on the proposed Consumer/Provider Arrangement currently released for consultationuntil August 1997. Information sessions for all families, staff, and with advocacy and peak organisations have been held.

The Consumer/Provider Arrangement will detail the services to be provided to each consumer, based on an Individual Plan; and the rights and responsibilities of both consumers and of the Disability Program. The Consumer Provider Arrangement will also include a stream-lined and accessible three-tiered complaint and review mechanism.

Work has also commenced on the development of the quality assurance framework. Workshops have been held involving staff at all levels, and further workshops are planned with peak and advocacy groups.

The quality assurance framework will incorporate both bottom up and top down mechanisms with an external accreditation process. The `bottom up' mechanism will be based on the Periodic Service Review mechanism, which is internationally recognised as best practise in the provision of services to people with a disability.

The Periodic Service Review mechanism is being trialed in the Disability Program as part of the Lifestyle Intervention Project, which combines the quality assurance framework with intensive training in behaviour management techniques and in Individual Planning.

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