Independent Living Alternatives (ILA) was established in 1989 to enable disabled people to live independently. Many disabled people want self-control over their own lives and to manage their own personal assistants. ILA provides innovative and flexible alternatives to institutional and domiciliary “care” provision through a range of personal assistance services informed by disabled people primarily, but not exclusively in London.

"Disabled people have an inalienable right to independent living"

ILA's response to the Care Quality Commission

ILA’s has been rated as requiring improvement by CQC. ILA is not a traditional care agency but a personal assistance agency rooted in the Disabled People’s Movement. This has been recognised and respected in previous inspections. ILA services are peer-led and grounded in the fundamental principle that Disabled people manage the services that they receive, in line with the social model of disability as opposed to the outdated and oppressive medical model of being, which positions Disabled people as passive recipients of care. ILA’s approach ensures that choice, control and autonomy remain with the Disabled person - not the service provider. The inspection report implies that ILA is not carrying out activities, rather than in documentation of those activities. ILA is already taking immediate action to resolve. As a result of the inspection you will notice changes in the way services are delivered and managed. There is going to be a period of adjustment for everyone, but please be assured that we are going to implementing these changes inline with the ethos of the organisation. The most noticeable change will be the introduction of technology to document the work of the organisation, This is essential as CQC inspect services based on documentation. Without documentation ILA cannot pass an inspection. ILA is currently recruiting a new worker: a Governance and Compliance Officer who will be office based and work full-time monitoring all the documentation required for compliance. This will include placement profiles, timesheets, incidents and accidents, training, etc. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any further questions.