The co-production of disability-related policy in Wales

Lead Research Organisation: CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: Cardiff School of Law and Politics

Abstract

The purpose of this fellowship is to disseminate and build on the findings of research into independent living,
previously completed by the fellow. Independent living is a key aim of the disabled people's movement. It
expresses the idea that disabled people have the same right as those who are non-disabled to live the lives of
their choice - to have equal employment, educational and family opportunities, to be in control of their living
arrangements and to take part in community and cultural life on an equal basis with others. Independent living
was devised by disabled activists as a response to personal and shared experiences of institutionalisation,
social segregation and external control. It is now enshrined as a human right in the UN Convention on the
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), particularly Article 19.

Research undertaken by the fellow to date has examined how disabled activists in Wales and the broader UK
context have developed independent living to counter and resist common ideas around disabled people, such
as narratives of dependency, vulnerability, 'otherness' and 'care'. The particular focus was what happens to the
idea of independent living when it is incorporated into social care and disability policy and law in the Welsh
context. It found that in policy and law, key elements of independent living were neutralised and their potential
depleted. This occurred in various different ways and for various reasons. This holds important lessons for
disabled activists in Wales and other parts of the UK who are seeking to insert independent living and other
rights contained in the CRPD into domestic policy and legislation. The findings are also important for policymakers,
such as Assembly Members and the Welsh Government, who are required to implement the CRPD.

The Welsh Government is currently considering how the CRPD can be effectively implemented in Wales, and
places a strong focus on developing policy and practice that is 'co-produced' with groups including those who
are directly affected by policy. In this context, the lessons of the research conducted to date are directly
relevant. The aim of this fellowship is to extend and disseminate the findings and conclusions of the research to
further the understanding of independent living in both the academic and non-academic audiences. The fellow
will produce papers that bring the research findings to new academic audiences and extend existing knowledge
in the fields of disability law, social care, and devolved governance. Dissemination to non-academic audiences
will enable disabled activists and policy-makers to use the content of the research to inform activities including
domestic policy development. Non-academic publications will be produced, including a short, fully accessible
summary of the research for broad dissemination, blogposts and podcasts. The findings of the research will be
shared with the cross party groups on disability in the UK Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales, the
Equality and Human Rights Commission in Wales and the UK and others. In addition, the fellow will coordinate a
one-day symposium for researchers, activists and policy makers in Wales, to share experiences and knowledge
on independent living and the co-production of disability-related policy in the Welsh context, and to explore
opportunities for joint collaborative future work in this field. The fellow will also use the fellowship to undertake
a scoping exercise to prepare for future research in this area.

Publications

10 25 50

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Tarrant A (2021) The Enigma of Section 16

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Tarrant A (2022) Welcome break? Holidays and recreation as eligible needs under the Care Act 2014 in Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law

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Tarrant, A (2022) Independent living as a counter-narrative: A work of resistance and repair in International Journal of Disability and Social Justice

 
Description This award has enabled the dissemination of previously obtained research findings among both academic and lay communities, including key stakeholder groups and policy makers at governmental level. As a result, I was invited to take part in the Welsh Government Task Force on the Rights of Disabled People. The purpose of the task force is to examine the state of disabled people's human rights in Wales, particularly in the light of the Covid pandemic. This work is ongoing at the time of submission, and has involved contributions both to the Task Force overall, and to various sub-groups.

I was also invited by the Welsh Government to take part in a working group on the development of legislation and guidance relating to the use of direct payments in continuing healthcare.
Exploitation Route In particular, contribution to the Welsh Government task force described above is enabling key stakeholders including disabled people, government ministers and other high level policy makers to benefit from the research findings.
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy

Healthcare

Government

Democracy and Justice

 
Description The findings have been used to open up dialogue with Members of the Welsh Parliament / Senedd and government officials. Contributions to policy processes, including work with Welsh Government officials, are ongoing.
Sector Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice
Impact Types Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description Member of Welsh Government Ministerial Task Force on Disability Rights
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Participation in Welsh Government development group for direct payments and IUTs in continuing health care
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Support to Welsh Government officials in creating guidance on IUTs in CHC
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Welsh Government Task Force on Disability Rights - participation in various sub-groups
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Written and oral evidence to Senedd Cymru Committees
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
 
Description Development of a Centre for Adult Social Care Research
Amount £163,497 (GBP)
Organisation Health and Care Research Wales 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2023 
End 03/2028
 
Description Judicial Review in Wales: Understanding the Low Numbers of Social Care Challenges
Amount £61,684 (GBP)
Organisation Economic and Social Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2023 
End 09/2027
 
Description Article in Western Mail 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Report on publication "Social Care Reform in Wales" by Dr Alison Tarrant, published by the Wales Governance Centre in 2021.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Interviewed by Radio Wales 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Live interview provided to BBC Wales 'DriveTime' programme - discussion of social care reform in Wales.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Presentation at Disability Wales conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Presentation to the annual conference of Disability Wales - a network of disabled people's organisations in Wales. Disability Wales reported increased understanding of the concept of independent living and knowledge among members.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
 
Description Presentation to Disability Wales training event 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Presentation given to attendees at a training event on the human rights of disabled people run by Disability Wales - a network of disabled people's organisations in Wales. Disability Wales reported that the presentation enabled attendees to think about the use of social care services in positive terms rather than in terms of unwelcome dependency.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Provision of training 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Training provided to policy and legal specialists at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (UK and Wales) on social care in the Welsh context, prior to the establishment by the EHRC of an investigation into this subject. Following this training provision I was asked to support the EHRC in the development of the Terms of Reference for the investigation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Report in South Wales Evening Post 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Report on publication "Social Care Reform in Wales" by Dr Alison Tarrant, published by the Wales Governance Centre in 2021.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
 
Description Training to EHRC 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Training on social care law in Wales provided to principal employees at the Equality and Human Rights Commission in Wales and the UK.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021