Press release - Housing and Support Alliance 11am July 4, 2013 Housing and Support Alliance appoint Dr Simon Duffy as new chair The Housing and Support Alliance (H&SA) has appointed Dr Simon Duffy, Director of The Centre for Welfare Reform, as its new chair. The H&SA is a national charity and membership organisation that promotes person centred approaches to housing and support for people with learning disabilities. Dr Simon Duffy is a philosopher, social innovator, writer, public speaker and government policy advisor, both nationally and internationally, who has worked for over 20 years to find practical ways to improve the welfare system. As well as forming and leading The Centre for Welfare Reform, Dr Duffy is policy advisor to the Campaign for a Fair Society and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham’s Health Service Management Centre. Speaking about his appointment, he says: “I look forward to working with an organisation that is committed to innovation and change, and is prepared to challenge injustices such as on-going institutionalisation of people with learning disabilities, unfair benefit cuts and the 33% cut in social care.” Alicia Wood (Chief Executive H&SA) says: “I am delighted that Simon will be leading us. He brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective, and I expect him to both challenge us and bring together our diverse membership. He’s joining at a busy time. Our membership has grown by more than 30% in the nine months since we formed, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. Following the Winterbourne View scandal, we will continue to take a strong stance on how people with the most complex needs can live in their communities successfully, promoting housing and support models that give people real choice and control over their lives, and do not replicate institutional models.” Dr Duffy concludes: “The H&SA shares with me a passion for human rights, and for ensuring all people can be true citizens. We are not about protecting how things are but working collaboratively to change the sector.” Dr Simon Duffy is available for interview, and to offer opinion and comment on social care, housing and learning disabilities issues. For further information, contact: Alicia Wood 07981 943198 [email protected] housingandsupport.org.uk Notes for editors 1. The H&SA formed in November 2012 with the merger of Housing Options, a housing advisory service, and the Association For Supported Living, an organisation dedicated to improving supported living services. It is a diverse learning disability membership organisation, bringing together commissioners, housing and care providers, carers and advocacy organisations with combined budgets of over £3 billion, representing over 80,000 thousand people with learning disabilities. 2. Dr Simon Duffy has a doctorate in moral philosophy and writes on moral philosophy, the welfare state, citizenship, social justice and inclusion. Key publications include Unlocking the Imagination (1996), Keys to Citizenship (2003) Women at the Centre (2011) A Fair Income (2011) and Peer Power (2012) and The Unmaking of Man (2013). His awards include the RSA’s Prince Albert Medal and the SPA Award for outstanding contribution to social policy. He is a pioneer of self-directed support, and was CEO of In Control from 2003 to 2009. ENDS
Posted on: Thu, 04 Jul 2013 11:34:18 +0000
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