hope of new opportunities for some, and refer to the right of individuals to refuse a service or some element of a service and to exit a particular service in favour of another one, the Standards needs to say more about the protection of existing centre based services for those who choose to avail of them.” Many respondents emphasised how integral families and natural supports are to the success of New Directions, yet these supports are not mentioned. For example, Sub397 wrote, “the Draft Interim Standards put the onus on the Service Provider to support the individual in all aspects of their life, with no requirements placed on natural supports, the wider community or the appropriate mainstream providers.” It was also noted that people who use services and families will need to be supported throughout the change process. Sub397 (SP) commented, “the fears and anxieties arising from these proposed changes to people’s current service are acknowledged and responded to by the HSE and the Department of Health, in order to build the much sought after trust and confidence in future service changes to come.” Sub393 (SP) provided a thoughtful recommendation writing, “Families are looking for reassurance that the implementation of these standards does not mean less service/supports for their son/daughter/sibling. We all have a role to play in reassuring families in this area. There is fear and anxiety that centres will be shut and services closed. We need to do a better job around assuring people that this will be an evolution of services person by person, rather than a cutting back or rationalising of supports. Perhaps some reassuring words to this effect could be embedded into the introduction/principles section, as well as carefully crafting that message in the roll out once the standards are finalised.”
hope of new opportunities for some, and refer to the right of individuals to refuse a service or some element of a service and to exit a particular service in favour of another one, the Standards needs to say more about the protection of existing centre based services for those who choose to avail of them.” Many respondents emphasised how integral families and natural supports are to the success of New Directions, yet these supports are not mentioned. For example, Sub397 wrote, “the Draft Interim Standards put the onus on the Service Provider to support the individual in all aspects of their life, with no requirements placed on natural supports, the wider community or the appropriate mainstream providers.” It was also noted that people who use services and families will need to be supported throughout the change process. Sub397 (SP) commented, “the fears and anxieties arising from these proposed changes to people’s current service are acknowledged and responded to by the HSE and the Department of Health, in order to build the much sought after trust and confidence in future service changes to come.” Sub393 (SP) provided a thoughtful recommendation writing, “Families are looking for reassurance that the implementation of these standards does not mean less service/supports for their son/daughter/sibling. We all have a role to play in reassuring families in this area. There is fear and anxiety that centres will be shut and services closed. We need to do a better job around assuring people that this will be an evolution of services person by person, rather than a cutting back or rationalising of supports. Perhaps some reassuring words to this effect could be embedded into the introduction/principles section, as well as carefully crafting that message in the roll out once the standards are finalised.”