dpulos: part of the mix

User-Led Organisations:Part of the mix

21 November 2011Webinar for research in practice for adultsRich Watts – National Lead, Strengthening DPULOs Programme

ULOs: Part of the mix 21 November 2011

Overview• Reflect on the main learning from ripfa’s series of ULO events

• Discuss the challenges for DPULOs and commissioners in the current environment

• Share ideas for addressing these challenges

• Share existing evidence and resources regarding DPULOs

• Provide an overview of the government’s new Strengthening DPULOs Programme


Discussion• What is a ULO?


Definitions• DPULO

– At least 75% of Management Board are disabled people– At least 50% of staff are disabled people– At least 50% of volunteers are disabled people– Works from the social model of disability perspective– (Or working towards the above)

• ULO– Explicitly includes carers and older people as part of %s


Reflections from ripfa’s ULO events (1)•User involvement and engagement in essential to all aspects of social care

•ULOs are unique and have a unique offer

•ULOs face particular dilemmas

•LAs have a key enabling role

•ULOs can support all stages of the commissioning cycle (analyse, decide, deliver, review)

•ULOs are increasingly part of thinking around social care

•There are some great examples of co-production by LAs and ULOs.


Reflections from ripfa’s ULO events (2)•ULOs weren’t designed solely as vehicles that operate within social care

•User engagement isn’t just about working with disabled people

•ULOs are part of the wider civil society sector

•For commissioners within public bodies:– Is the difference between commissioning and procurement clear enough to

all Officers at all levels of the organisation?– Willing to consider added value from ULOs in user engagement and

coproduction could (and often does) lead to financial added value?

•For ULOs themselves:– If service users are happy, does it matter who delivers it? – If ULOs offer services disabled people want, why face towards

commissioners at all?


Discussion• What challenges do DPULOs currently face?


Discussion• What challenges do commissioners face?

– Particularly in relation to working with DPULOs


Qualitative evidence• POET survey

• ODI’s Support, Advocacy & Brokerage Project

• Leeds peer support work

• Demos Counting the Costs report


Quantitative• Health Empowerment Leverage Project

– £3.80 saved for every £1 invested

• POET / OPM longitudinal study / SCIE– Uuptake of Personal Budgets – 100% versus 16%

• Disability hate crime reporting– Higher incidence of reporting where better support services exist

• LINks data from Department of Health– £4.10 in savings for every £1 invested


Strengthening DPULOs programme (ODI / DWP)•Driven and launched by Minister for Disabled People (Maria Miller MP) in July

•Learned from DH ULO work and Disability LIB

•Three components over 4 years:– 12 Ambassadors– Experts– £ 3m Facilitation Fund

•National Lead creates space in which this work takes place


Thanks, and contact• Rich Watts, National Lead

– [email protected]– [email protected]

• WWW:– http://odi.dwp.gov.uk/dpuloprogramme– www.facebook.com/dpulos

• Twitter: #dpulo

dpulos: part of the mix

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