“Though governments increasingly recognise the inevitability of
deinstitutionalisation, there is less clarity with regard to the mechanisms
that replace institutionalisation and what would constitute a human
rights-based response.” [1] This
led to the development of The Common European Guidelines on the Transition from
Institutional to Community-based Care[2]
at commonly referred to as the “Common European
Guidelines” brought together European and international best practices to “provide practical advice about how to make
a sustained transition from institutional care to family-based and
community-based alternatives.”
Common European guidelines are the only European document
that is explicitly devoted only to deinstitutionalisation. The guidelines are a
form of recommendations for member states and pre-accession states on how to
implement the transition to community services. At the same time, they are a
practical toolkit for stakeholders and practitioners on how to plan the process
and how to implement it on an everyday level.
As the guidelines state deinstitutionalisation
should base on a deep respect for human rights of people with disabilities,
minimisation of risk and effectiveness for all stakeholders and actors of the
process. Together with the institutional closure quality community services
should be established. A good vision, community involvement, decision makers’
involvement and good leadership are key features of
deinstitutionalisation.
The document sets guidelines on how to create a good
strategy and action plan based on dialogue and practical data, which
legislation should be changed to enable community care, how to develop a range of
community services, how to develop the workforce and steer the founding from
institutions towards community, how to develop person centred care, how to plan
institutional transformation and how to steer, monitor and evaluate the
process.
Together with the Toolkit on the Use of
European Union Funds for the Transition from Institutional to Community Based
Care, they enable states to carry out deinstitutionalisation
effectively and consistently without unnecessary investments in institutions.
Since the UNCRPD, a paradigm shift is occurring away from a medical
model of care, towards a social rights model where individuals are supported to
become active citizens making a contribution to their own communities. This has
been accompanied by a wider understanding of the adaptations which society must
make in order to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are
vindicated.[3]
A re-shaping of how services are provided is needed and the
development of new services not currently available to meet new and changing needs
and/or the integration in the services of a person centred, inclusive,
participative and individualised approach, adopting the new social rights model
of disability. One of the areas requiring improvements and/or changes is the
way provision of long term and/or intense care is provided to persons with
disabilities.
Common European Guidelines see it as an imperative
that in managing the transition process people with significant disabilities
and complex needs are not left behind. As this only generates additional needs.
Promoting a person-centred approach will inevitably require innovative
solutions, providing greater choice and control throughout life.
Regarding community based services; the guidelines refer to the
spectrum of services that enable individuals to live in the community and, in
the case of children, to grow up in a family environment as opposed to an
institution. This encompasses the use of mainstream services, such as housing,
healthcare, education, employment, culture and leisure, which should be
accessible to everyone –regardless of the nature of their impairment or the
required level of support. It also refers to specialised services, such as
personal assistance for persons with disabilities, respite care and others. In
addition, the term ‘community based services’ includes family-based and
family-like care for children, including substitute family care and
preventative measures for early intervention and family support.
Claimer: This blog is intended as a part of
Situation Analysis and Assessment/ Evaluation Report of Implementation of
National Strategy on Deinstitutionalisation 2008-2018 which will be soon
presented to the public within the EU framework project Technical assistance
support for the deinstitutionalization process in social sector. For this blog
Andreja Rafaelič is considered to be co-author.
[1] COE
Human Rights Commissioner, 2012.
[2] www.deinstittutionalisationguide.eu The
Common European Guidelines on the Transition from Institutional to
Community-based Care, published in November 2012
[3]
EASPD MAKING COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES A REALITY - Roadmap on
deinstitutionalisation
Your website is very beautiful or Articles. I love it thank you for sharing for everyone. Human Services Consultant
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