2024–2025 Services delivered: supportive living services

Component: Intervenors Services

Legislation: Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) Act
Service objectives

• Intervenor Services provide auditory and visual information to enable access to services, information, and facilitate communication so that people who are deafblind can participate in their communities, make informed decisions, and achieve and/or maintain independence. In addition, Intervenor Services provide support with activities of daily living and enable safe navigation of a physical environment

Service description

Individuals served

• Intervenor Services are for adults who are deafblind who have demonstrated that they meet eligibility criteria as defined in the Intervenor Services Framework, including being a resident of Ontario and at least 18 years of age
• People who are attending secondary school are not eligible to receive MCCSS-funded Intervenor Services

Specific service provided

• Enable people who are deafblind are able to live as independently as possible in their environment including the broader community
• Facilitate meaningful communication between the person who is deafblind and the people around them to build and maintain personal relationships, access and engage public and private services and supports, and respond during emergencies that affect the person
• Provide auditory and visual information to support concept development and access to information so the person can learn and pursue their individual goals and make informed decisions
• Support to enable participation in community-based activities of the person's choosing
• Develop knowledge and skills to utilize community infrastructure and resources
• Support the person to achieve success in a variety of activities of daily living, including meal preparation, managing finances and medications, telephone use, shopping, transportation, personal care and other life activities
• Engage the person in service planning and case management
• Use of sighted-guide techniques to ensure safe navigation of physical environments indoors and outdoors
• Purchase of pre-approved assistive devices which are not covered by other government funded programs that specifically assist the person with communication (e.g. personalized calendar systems, etc.)
• Supervise and/or mentor intervenor staff
• Monitor and evaluate services provided to individuals

Out of scope services and activities

• Care for and/or supervision of children, dependents, or other family members of the person receiving Intervenor Services
• Services and supports provided through other ministry programs or levels of government
• Use of MCCSS Intervenor Services program funding for facilitation of communication that another organization (i.e. court of law or hospital) has a mandate or legal obligation to provide
• Where an Intervenor Services agency receives a request for service that another organization (i.e. hospital) has a mandate to provide, reasonable efforts must be made by the intervenor service provider to ensure that the other organization provides and/or funds the Intervenor Services. MCCSS-funding may be used for this purpose only when reasonable efforts have been made
• Purchase of pre-approved assistive devices which are covered by other government funded programs that specifically assist the person with communication (e.g. personalized calendar systems, etc.)
• Minor and major capital projects (e.g. roof repairs, ramp construction, residential renovations)
• Income support or other expenses related to residential settings and housing costs, including repairs and maintenance, utilities, etc
• Health benefits such as vision care, prescription medications, medical supplies, etc
• Professional services such as psychological services, psychiatric services, etc.
• Disability-related benefits such as assistive devices (where covered through other government programs), mobility aids, guide dogs, etc

Delivery method

• Services will be delivered in-person in a manner that is
• Person driven and provided in the person's preferred language and/or communication method
• Reflective of and responsive to individual strengths, needs, personal preferences, and decisions
• Sensitive to the social, linguistic and cultural diversity of people, families, and communities, including Indigenous communities
• Based on the person's assessed needs and preferences within the available Transfer Payment Recipient's MCCSS-funded resources
• Services will be provided by agency staff that
• Possess relevant experience, training, certification and/or college level diplomas in the human services field, including Intervenor Services, Developmental Services and/or American Sign Language/Langue des signes Québécoise
• Demonstrate the appropriate technical and behavioural competencies required to respond effectively to the needs of the person who is deafblind
• Receive relevant training and mentorship opportunities to ensure the provision of high-quality Intervenor Services

Program/service features

• Supportive Living Intervenor Services are delivered by Transfer Payment Recipient staff to a person who is deafblind in a variety of community participation and Supportive Living settings including, but not limited to, an agency operated group home, at home where there is an unpaid primary caregiver, or where the person lives independently in their own home
• Services delivered typically provide consistent availability of Intervenor Services on a day-to- day basis to the person where a moderate to high level of facilitation by the intervenor or other agency staff is required to assist with activities of daily living and access to outside services and resources

Program goals

• To facilitate communication between the person who is deafblind and their environment, using their preferred method of communication to assist them to live as independently as possible
• To help the person who is deafblind access information through a variety of communication methods making it possible for them to participate in activities of their choice, connect with other people, and make informed decisions
• To support the person who is deafblind to understand, access, coordinate, and organize community-based services that enable them to integrate or re-integrate with the broader community
• To provide Intervenor Services in coordination with other Ontario government programs to address the needs of the person who is deafblind to improve quality of life

Ministry expectations

• Transfer Payment Recipients will adhere to the policy directives and guidelines outlined in the Intervenor Services Framework and reflect its intent in their operational practices

Single point of access

• All requests for new and enhanced Intervenor Services must be applied for and accessed through the Single Point of Access
• Transfer Payment Recipients will ensure that service data in the Single Point of Access is updated for existing and new people in their service

Service agreements

• Transfer Payment Recipients will ensure that a signed Service Agreement is in place with each person accessing Intervenor Services and that the agreed upon services are based on the assessed needs and preferences of the person
• At a minimum, the Service Agreement will
• Clearly identify the roles and responsibilities of the Transfer Payment Recipient and the person
• Identify and quantify the various services and supports the person can access from the agency
• Identify how the person can change or end the Service Agreement
• Address how the Transfer Payment Recipient will receive complaints and manage potential conflicts
• Reflect required considerations included in the Intervenor Services Framework
• Include ad-hoc service data and information that, upon request, the Transfer Payment Recipient may be required to report to the ministry; and
• Be reviewed annually with the consumer and updated if changes to service hours are needed

Reporting requirements

The following service data will be reported on at an Interim and Final stage. Please refer to your final agreement for report back due dates and targets.