Summary
The day programmes and accommodation sector for persons with disabilities offers different types of services, designed to best meet the specific needs of this target group.
The care support can take different forms:
- programmes during the day only;
- supervised housing;
- full accommodation in residential services. Such accommodation is the main place where persons with disabilities live. Care support is provided every day of the year, 24 hours a day.
In 1997, Wallonia introduced a moratorium suspending the creation and financing of new accredited places providing day programmes for persons with disabilities in Wallonia. The regulatory framework for the accreditation of service providers organising activities for persons with disabilities has enabled many services created during this moratorium period to obtain accreditation and a framework within which to operate. The activities of such service providers are either partially subsidised or not subsidised by the Agency for Quality of Life (AVIQ). Partially subsidised services (SAPS) share a fixed budget.
These services benefit from a certain degree of flexibility in their activities. They may deliver:
- accommodation;
- day programmes or night care;
- supervised housing;
- care support.
These services can cater to a wider range of beneficiaries, provided that at least 75% of the care if for persons with disabilities whose profile and/or medical condition makes them eligible for AVIQ aid covering day programmes, accommodation or care support.
Anyone receiving such services must pay a daily contribution.
The care support offered by such service providers is part of an effort to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities and takes into account:
- their specific needs;
- their expectations and wishes;
- their own pace.
These services provide educational support through a variety of tailored activities and provide psychological, social and therapeutic support. This care support is aimed at:
- the social integration of the person;
- the civic and cultural engagement of the person;
- personal development.
These services must also comply with the regulatory framework, including notably:
- compliance with the minimum supervision standards;
- requirements relating to infrastructures;
- as well as obligations concerning the users, including setting up an individual plan for each person receiving care support.
Moreover, such services are subject to regular financial and quality audits, as part of a continuous effort to improve the care support provided.
Key points
In 2020, a moratorium was introduced for this sector. Services created after 2020 may still obtain accreditation by the AVIQ but will no longer receive funding.
In detail
A non-profit organisation, public authority or foundation wishing to launch a service aimed at day programmes for persons with disabilities.
Service providers may apply to the AVIQ for accreditation provided that:
- their target group is composed of at least 75% of persons with disabilities whose profile and/or medical condition makes them eligible for AVIQ assistance in terms of day programmes, accommodation or care support;
- they comply with sectoral planning requirements:
- they develop a range of services or care additional to what is offered by providers of residential services, day programme services, family-type support services, care support services or daily-living assistance services accredited and subsidised in their subregion;
- they offer a range of services or care that are unavailable or insufficiently developed in their subregion;
- they support persons with disabilities who fall into categories for which the services offered by providers of residential services, day programme services, family-type support services, care support services or daily-living assistance services accredited and subsidised in their subregion are insufficient or unavailable.
Details on the entire procedure are in the regulations in force. Before submitting a project, you are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with all the regulations.
When service providers wish to launch an accredited and subsidised service for persons with disabilities, they must lodge an application for the first accreditation with the AVIQ.
The application may be sent by post or by electronic means provided that proof of sending and of the date of sending is enabled.
The application must include several documents:
- Information on the service provider’s director:
- Surname and first name.
- Certified copies of their diplomas.
- A recent criminal record check (less than three months old) showing no criminal convictions or prison sentence incompatible with the activity.
- A written delegation of powers from the governing body.
- A fire safety certificate:
- A favourable report from a municipal or regional fire department certifying that all precautions have been taken to prevent fires. It must specify the capacity for day programme provision and the nature of the facilities.
- This document is not required for independent living projects in private housing occupied by a maximum of six persons, also known as supervised housing services.
- Technical plans of the place where programmes are provided:
- The existing and proposed site plans, layout plans, with floor plans for all levels, cross-sectional, elevation and façade views, including those of the existing buildings if modifications are planned.
- These plans should allow a clear understanding of the service provider’s facility layout and should be consolidated in a master plan.
- Service project:
- A document describing the service’s objectives for the next six years.
- It should contain the method of monitoring the individual plans of beneficiaries.
- It must follow the official template (Annex 45/2) and include an objective-based agreement (see the ‘Learn more’ section).
- Internal regulations:
- They must meet certain regulatory requirements.
- Model agreement:
- This refers to a type of ‘standard contract’ between the service provider and the person receiving care support.
- It must contain the elements listed in Annex 114/5.
- Explanatory note concerning:
- The nature and type of activities.
- The number of people who will be supervised, their gender and age.
- The service provider’s company number.
The entire procedure is detailed in the regulations in force. Before submitting a project, you are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with all the regulations.
Within 30 days of receipt of the application for accreditation, the AVIQ will send the applicant an acknowledgement of receipt, provided that the documentation is complete.
If the documentation is incomplete, the AVIQ will inform the applicant and indicate which missing documents are to be provided.
Once the documentation has been completed and re-submitted by the applicant, the AVIQ has an additional 30-day time limit to send an acknowledgement of receipt provided that the documentation is complete this time. Otherwise, the AVIQ will again indicate the missing elements.
Once the documentation is complete, the AVIQ will review it and the Minister will make a decision within six months from receiving the complete documents for the accreditation application.