Local Authorities

MOVE offers a best practice framework for parents and professionals working with children and adults who have severe motor disabilities. This operates to bring care services together, encouraging collaborative working at all levels whilst placing an essential structure around work that is already taking place.

Throughout the process, every child/adult is actively monitored and assessed, and the results are recorded in a consistent manner to enable clear and concise evaluation.

Whilst we make no unrealistic claims, studies show the benefits of the MOVE Programme are significant and measurable. Furthermore, the health and social benefits achieved by severely disabled recipients through improved mobility are supported by academic research.

The Benefits of establishing the MOVE Programme as part of a Development Agreement

Establishing the MOVE Programme throughout an authority will provide huge health, social, and communication benefits to those children under the care of the Local Authority, ensuring that they are provided with the best service available. Benefits of a Development Agreement to a Local Authority/Borough also include:

• The MOVE Programme supports the joint management and planning of budgetary forecasting between services and provides a process for extending budget planning beyond the annual system. The development and implementation of pooled and aligned budgets with health can be based on long term assessment of need
• An integrated service delivery programme – All teaching/school staff, therapy staff, medical clinicians, social care and the family work together as a team to identify aims for the future development of the individual via a set of shared, family and person-centred goals. It can provide opportunities for all services to achieve “more for less” in an integrated way as the team around the child. The MOVE Programme can be delivered in all settings, mainstream school, special school, short break provision and within the home: thus providing a joined up service working toward shared goals
• The MOVE Programme strengthens physical development provision in schools and care centres for disabled children and adults who have complex health needs. Furthermore, it provides a framework with objectives that meet the pertinent aspects of current legislation and recommendations including the SEN Green Paper
• The MOVE Programme is an option for Local Authorities as they endeavour to maintain and develop in-authority provision for children and young people in a number of ways, supporting recommendations made by the Audit Commission in the Local Government Summary, 2007 and the 2008 National Indicator Survey on improving children’s health and well being to local authorities
• The MOVE Programme also provides a value for money service to Local Authorities as multi-agency working is the foundation behind the programme, with the family at its core, therefore supporting the link of cross-agency resources
• The MOVE Programme will provide a way for these authorities/boroughs to meet the relevant requirements under current legislation
• The MOVE Programme provides an evidence based framework across the five outcomes for children with complex SEN that can be used to establish expectations of progress and a basis for monitoring outcomes
• After the agreed period of development with MOVE Europe, the Local Authority will become self-sustainable in managing, operating and training others in the use of the MOVE Programme

In short, the MOVE Programme can support Local Authorities in developing a joint needs analysis and a strategic approach to joint commissioning and budget alignment for children and young people with complex and profound needs.

MOVE is the only UK charity to provide this unique approach improving mobility for those living with physical and complex disabilities. Our aim is to ensure that the MOVE Programme is available to everyone who is able to benefit from its input.  

Sustainable Implementation Best Practice Model

The MOVE Programme is designed to be cost-effective and self-sustaining. To ensure the most effective and efficient roll out of the MOVE Programme, MOVE Europe works alongside Local Authorities and Boroughs to provide a best practice sustainable framework.

Implementation in a locality through a MOVE Development Agreement involves the creation and support of MOVE Practitioners, MOVE Trainers and MOVE Consultants. Through the Agreement, once trained, these individuals are then licensed to operate and manage all subsequent training within the area, meaning that the need for repeated funding is not required. MOVE Europe supports the development of the MOVE Programme during the agreement period and once the agreement has come to an end and the area is sustainable, MOVE Europe steps back from direct involvement in training, although its supporting and consultancy roles will still be maintained. 

MOVE Development Agreements

The MOVE Partnership has had particular success in rolling out this self-sustaining model across Scotland with 11 authorities having established MOVE agreements. Now, a large proportion of those children able to benefit from access to the MOVE Programme in Scotland can do so.

We have also had some major successes with individual Local Authorities in England and Wales. For example, one has purchased county-wide training for all professionals working directly with children and adults up to the age of 65 who could benefit.

To date a total of 17 MOVE Development Agreements have been established throughout the UK, supporting thousands of physically disabled children to receive the best level of care possible.

Costs

To establish the MOVE sustainable model throughout the entire jurisdiction of a Local Authority can take between two to five years depending on the size of the area to be developed. The precise cost is dependent on such factors as current participation, establishments to be trained, time requests of development personnel, geographical size, travel and accommodation requirements.

Further information

MOVE Development Agreements will soon be managed via Diverse Solutions Ltd. Please contact us to discuss how we might assist in improving the wellbeing and dignity of those who have complex learning difficulties and disabilities in your locality.

Please read more about the MOVE Programme.