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Planning ⁽¹²⁾

• How will the supports work in rural areas?

  Individualized Funding and the development of unique support plans creates flexibility that hasn’t been in place before. The Remedy provides new approaches to support that can address some of the challenges people have previously faced. By working with each individual and building local capacity, the Remedy is designed to think outside urban areas where traditional supports and services tend to be.  Regional hubs supported with innovation funding will test local solutions to local issues. A new role has been created for community living facilitators, and new approaches like home sharing are some of the ways the Remedy will support building more community-based options in rural areas. 

• Will people with Autism be supported in the Remedy (even those without intellectual disability)?

  The Remedy provides an avenue for anyone who self-identifies as having a disability to work with a Local Area Coordinator to discuss plans and make connections in their community. DSP is actively working to update the criteria that will determine access to funding for disability supports. We know determining the significance of a person’s functional support needs will be considered. The concern around an Autism diagnosis will inform the discussion on updating the criteria.  A recent change to DSP Policy has removed ineligibility criteria such as those in DSP Policy 9.3 and 9.4, shifting DSP from denying supports toward collaboration with partner services to consider what could be possible.
   

• Will the Remedy support youth and children?

  While it focuses mostly on adults, the Remedy acknowledges “the way that families and children with disabilities are supported through the early years and to adulthood fundamentally impact outcomes. Supporting children with disabilities to be included in all aspects of their community from a young age ends the pathway to institutions. The Remedy addresses some of these measures through the School Leavers proposal in section 3.3 and intergovernmental work underway in other departments.”

  Further, the Remedy recommends: 

  • The continued development and enhancement of the children’s services and progressive redevelopment of that into an individual funding model.
  • Exploring how enhancing respite supports for children may contribute to scaling of efforts such as Homeshare. 

  In 2022, DSP received approval to implement changes and enhancements to the existing DSP service for children with disabilities. Income thresholds for Direct Family Support for Children (DFSC) were updated to match the increase in the Consumer Price Index since 2012 and several new benefits were introduced: 

  • Providing a new Inclusion Benefit to all participants
  • Reducing receipt requirements for respite
  • Increasing summer respite funding
  • Rolling over unused respite funding 

  Approval was also given to create new programs that had been successfully piloted: Intense Family Support Planning, Agency Delivered Respite and Outreach Supports. Given these programs align with the Remedy, implementation will be done at the same time as the Remedy.

• How will DSP drive a culture shift that changes institutional mindsets and practices?

  DSP will support this internally within government departments and externally with communities, service providers and others. Intensive training and leadership efforts to foster culture change are underway to shift from an institution-based approach to a values-based approach. 

• How will DSP work after the Remedy? Will DSP participants have the same care coordinators?

  DSP will work differently. There will be more support people to work with individuals. Some people may continue working with the same person as before, and many people may meet someone new to help them build a plan. LACs and IPSCs will have more time to spend with each person they work with, to get to know them and what matters to them.

• How will DSP work with other departments to align on vision and inclusion?

  The Remedy puts responsibility on the whole government for implementation. DCS/DSP cannot – and should not – do this work alone. A Government Disability Roundtable is one measure to create intergovernmental leadership and structure. Similarly, alignment with anti-black racism efforts, the universal mental health strategy, Accessibility Act and other cross-government initiatives will be critical. Policy alignment on the Adult Capacity and Decision-Making Act (ACDMA) is needed to advance supported decision making, and a review of licensing and building codes is already underway.

• How will the regional hubs be developed?

  Regional hubs are a functional concept to develop more local resources and connections in communities. Each hub will be staffed with a team and supported by a Regional Advisory Council, all working toward solutions for that area of Nova Scotia. While specific office locations for the regional hubs are still under consideration, the intention is not necessarily to centralize resources into one office. 

• Will regional hubs be staffed with medical professionals (doctors, mental health etc.)?

  The first step required by the Remedy was to create the position of Director of Allied Health Supports to lead this work for DSP.  The position has been created and filled. The Director will now be focused on fostering collaboration and devising solutions working with health system partners from Nova Scotia Health, Office of Addictions and Mental Health, and Department of Health and Wellness to ensure pathways exist in community for persons with disabilities to access the clinical supports they require.

  A universal mental health plan for all Nova Scotians has been developed and is being reviewed to ensure it meets the needs of persons with disabilities. This will help inform the type of health supports delivered in the Regional Hubs.  At the same time, the Director of Allied Health Supports is working with current institutional service providers to find opportunities for re-deploying existing health supports in community as facilities close. 

• Will the Shared Services Pilot be continued?

  Yes, the shared services pilot model designed to support people under 65 to move out of long-term care will continue.

  By March 2026, which is year three (3) of the Remedy, we expect 200 individuals will have been offered the opportunity to move out of long-term care into community. When this target is met, the pilot will be complete, but the service delivery model will continue to be an option. Moving forward, Individualized Funding will be the model used for all participants of DSP. 

• What does planning look like?

  It’s individualized. Good planning means getting to know an individual deeply and is done with people they feel comfortable with. We are often limited by what we see and what we know. Local Area Coordinators and Intensive Planning Support Coordinators will have the skills to help individuals develop a vision for their life and create a plan that supports that. Some people may already have a plan and simply need support to put it in place. Others may need opportunities to learn what is possible. Planning must be intentional and opportunities to see and learn alternative options is necessary. Dedicated Intensive Planning Support Coordinators will have specific skills in helping people with high support needs. Regardless of a person’s support needs, they have a right to live in community. The planning process will help identify what’s needed to make this happen. 

• I’m a DSP participant. Who helps me with my plan?

  This is up to you. Do you want family, or friends involved? Would you like to use peer support? It’s your choice. Your LAC or IPSC can help you manage this. You are in charge of your plan. If you don’t have family or friends, part of the plan could be to help build connections and relationships. The role of anyone involved in your plan is to help you build the life you want in community. It is your voice and your preferences that matter. Some people may need support to articulate their preferences. Family, friends and people who know you can help with this.

• How will individualized funding work and who will help with managing that funding?

  Using a needs assessment and based on an individual plan, each DSP participant will have a personalized budget. That budget is designed to cover the supports needed to build and live a meaningful life in community. Help in managing money is available through supports known as the Individualized Funding (IF) “backbone”.