About Us

Introduction of Ideal for All

Image of Naeem Arif, IFA Executive DirectorIdeal for All (IFA) is a not for profit company and registered charity run by and for disabled people in the borough (district) of Sandwell. It provides a range of social and health care services to support disabled people, carers and disadvantaged groups, to learn new skills and live as independently as possible. Ideal For All to be managed and controlled by disabled people themselves was a blue sky thinking, yet daring concept in early 1990’s, the era when disabled people were still being confined to the Day Centres culture and be looked after by social care agencies. It also posed a challenge to many health and social care professionals, who viewed disabled people either as ill or unable to look after their own affairs. The journey of IFA has been challenging and difficult yet the outcome has been remarkably worthy. Disabled people in Sandwell and generally in the UK now stand much better chances of achieving their goals and live a fulfilling life. Yet we feel there is a lot still to be achieved.

The Area of Operation

Sandwell lies in the heart of the West Midlands in an area of the UK known as the “Black Country”, due to it’s historical industrial background. Sandwell has an area of 86 sq km and a population of 287600 (Office of National Statistics estimates for 2006). Sandwell is a culturally rich and diverse borough, with a BME (Black & Minority Ethnic) population of 20% mainly from an Asian, Indian and Afro Caribbean background. Over 21% of Sandwell’s population are aged 60 or over. Almost 22% of Sandwell residents identify themselves as having a “limited long term illness”. Approximately 13000 people with physical, sensory and learning disability were registered with Sandwell Council in 2003. However it is worth noting that disabled people who live independently and are economically active do not necessarily register themselves with the Council.

The Services of Ideal For All

imageIFA services are provided from a number of sites within Sandwell and Dudley. The main base is the state of the art Independent Living Centre, a facility in Sandwell, which provides a range of services planned and designed around the needs of the people using them. While there are a number of voluntary organisations servicing a specific community or disability group, IFA services are accessible by all communities and individuals living in the borough.

The services provided by IFA include occupational therapy, wheelchair fitting and rehabilitation, a fully equipped demonstration house with a range of assistive technologies for disabled people, the Direct Payments support Service, a Government initiative which allows disabled people to take control of their personal care needs and employ their own staff, instead of being cared for by social care agencies. IFA’s other services include equipment for deaf and hearing-impaired people, an information service covering a range of disability related issues and the lifelong learning service, which offers a range of opportunities from, accredited accessible, IT training to aromatherapy. IFA also provides an Employment support and advice service aimed at supporting people into employment or further education both in Sandwell and in Dudley, a membership and social events service and a multi-media service focusing on providing a range of accessible information in partnership with statutory providers.

An additional service is Growing Opportunities, which provides a range of horticulture, gardening and exercise opportunities at Malthouse Garden and Salop Drive Market Garden. These gardens are developed over a period of five years with a wide stream of funding from statutory, private and charitable sectors. This service promotes healthy eating, grow and cook your own food and links with schools and health professionals. The market garden is a community agriculture project on a 3 acre site based in a local housing estate developed by IFA and now sustained by Sandwell Primary Care Trust through IFA. Last but not least the Social Events group provide disabled people, their families and carers the much needed accessible holidays, day trips and peer support.

All of the projects and services of Ideal for All are grounded in the principles of participation and partnership working. Through active engagement of socially excluded and included groups, IFA have been successful in designing services to meet the needs of individuals and ensure continued involvement and participation in their delivery and management.

The Direct Payments support service is one vehicle by which disabled clients can administer their own care funds to secure the services they need at the times they need. For many this is a route to greater flexibility, independence and dignity. The national service needs to be liberated from bureaucratic burdens though, for many the requirements of the system are frightening and intimidating, bureaucracy needs to lighten up, respect and trust the clients to get the services they need and get value for money, yet allowing them to lead as normal a life as possible, which many of us take for granted.

What makes IFA unique?

IFA is a major local and national advocate for the needs of disabled people, forming new networks and partnerships with neighbouring boroughs to progress its mission of equality for all. It was established in 1996 after a period of extensive user and carer consultation in Sandwell to set up a fully accessible Independent Living Centre (ILC). The ILC was a partnership project between Sandwell Council, Sandwell Health Authority and disabled people/carers, from an early stage, local disabled people aspired to run the facility themselves. Ideal for All, a user-led charitable organisation was established to move this forward.

The company has grown from managing a small interim demonstration facility of equipment and adaptations, to managing multiple sites and a vast range of user-led services created around the needs of the people who use them. IFA was supported through the mid nineties by primary health care development funds and the ILC state of the art facility was funded in 1996 through a £2million Government funding. Core funding has come via Social Services and the health service with additional grants from charitable and European funding sources. From an initial budget of around £54,000 per year, Ideal For All’s annual turnover has now grown to over £1 million per year. IFA has a workforce of 45 people, 43% of whom are people with a disability.

Through its user-led governance model, IFA has been able to influence the shape of a number of traditional social care services. This has been possible through a number of innovative service level agreements, which build user involvement into every aspect of service design and delivery. IFA is a partner in the Oldbury Partnership in Action service for older people. This uses health service legislation that allows funding from social services, health, housing and leisure to be pooled on order to maintain older people living independently in Oldbury.

IFA is a voice and a beacon for what disabled people can achieve given the support and the opportunity. It is also a beacon for how services can be developed where statutory agencies and professional bodies are willing to be supportive, not controlling. Ideal For All demonstrates on a massive scale, processes which offer service users the ability to choose and receive services that are tailored to their specific needs and circumstances. In terms of service user involvement in service planning and delivery, it is on the very highest rung of the ‘Arnstein ladder of community involvement’ and a highly acclaimed model of a ULO (User Led Organisation).

In conclusion, IFA is an inspirational role model for individuals, communities and professionals of what could be achieved with a strong will, mutual respect and support.

The Awards Won by Ideal For All