Currently, Community Living Windsor offers support in 5 different areas (or departments).
24 hour Supports – people are supported 24 hours a day in their home, which is owned by Community Living Windsor.
Family Support – offers a wide range of supports, including, in-home supports, processing invoices, assisting with budgets.
Downtown Centre Supports (DTC) – People who live independently are supported throughout the week with daily tasks – groceries, appointments, purchases/planning.
ADDventures – people are supported to participate in recreational activities or volunteer opportunities within their community
Employment Support – people can receive job coaching, interview preparation, training, and assistance finding employment.
Sometimes, people we support and their families are involved in multiple areas of support from the “non-24 hour” group – Family, DTC, ADDventures, and Employment. This can result in multiple meetings, multiple points of contact, and even confusion about which staff provide which support – “Are you here to take me grocery shopping or bowling?”
We, have created these barriers, we often call them silos. For a long time, it seemed logical to have the Agency divided into separate departments, different oversight, different teams, sometimes different policies and procedures. But, the more we looked at it, the less it made sense. Why couldn’t the same Direct Support Professional support someone to get groceries AND go bowling?
This change made even more sense with Journey to Belonging (read more here). That's the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services’ current plan to reform the Developmental Services (DS) Sector. The focus is on choice, and by moving towards a funding model in which people and families receive their funding, not agencies, it will allow them to choose the type of support they receive, and just as importantly, choose who they receive their support from.
Would you choose to have three separate meetings with three separate teams to help you get your groceries, go bowling, and look for a job?
Wouldn’t it be easier to have one meeting and one team to work with?
That’s our Vision – direct support professionals (DSPs) trained in all 4 aspects of support and able to provide flexible high-quality support that responds to the needs and wants of the people we support and their families.
This vision is intertwined with many aspects of our Strategic Plan (you can read more here)
We are focused on preparing for the changes that Journey to Belonging will bring, by creating more choice and flexibility for people and families. We want it to be easier to access all the great support we offer.
So, we’re making some changes in the New Year.
We have a phased approach to get to our vision, and the first step is to break down some of these physical (and systemic) barriers we have created. So over the next few months you may notice some changes, whether you're a family member, person supported, direct support professional, community partner or member of the public.
Let's take a look at how these upcoming phases might affect someone we currently support in one (or more) of these areas, and how they might affect a direct support professional currently providing support in one of these areas.
Changes for People Supported through our Downtown Centre, ADDventures, Family Support, and/or Employment Services
Phase 1 - Physical Changes - Beginning Jan 2025
No changes to support, or who you receive support from.
Less reliance on the physical buildings (Downtown Centre and ADDventures) - finding new ways to receive the support that traditionally used those physical spaces (dropping in, picking up items, meetings, lunches, etc.)
Phase 2 - Exposure to Other Supports - Beginning April 2025
Completely voluntary!
Opportunities to explore/discuss/learn about other support options CLW offers, with your current support team.
Phase 3 - Our Vision - Beginning July 2025
Again, accessing new supports is voluntary!
Able to access support from any of our previously siloed departments (Downtown Centre, ADDventures, Family, and/or Employment) through a manager you are connected with and your support team.
Changes for Direct Support Professionals providing support through Downtown Centre, ADDventures, Family Support, and/or Employment Services
Phase 1 - Physical Changes - Beginning Jan 2025
No changes to the support you provide, or who you support.
Less reliance on the physical buildings (Downtown Centre and ADDventures) - finding new ways to provide the support that traditionally used those physical spaces (dropping in, picking up items, meetings, lunches, etc.)
Provide feedback and ideas.
You may need to access/pick up vehicles from a different location than you are used to.
Phase 2 - Exposure to Other Supports - Beginning April 2025
Participating in training and learning opportunities to expand your skills and knowledge about other types of support.
Provide feedback and ideas, ask questions!
Opportunities to talk to the people you support about other support options CLW offers.
Phase 3 - Our Vision - Beginning July 2025
Provide varied support options to the people you are supporting, at their request/need.
The big change you will notice right away in the new year is...
We are going to be moving our staff and supports away from the physical buildings on McDougall and Temple Drive (the Downtown Centre and ADDventures).
Managers, Support Coordinators, Administrative Assistants, and Receptionists will all be working out of our main office at Enterprise Way. Direct Support Professionals will reduce the reliance on CLW buildings while they continue to provide the same support, to the same people, utilizing community resources across Windsor.
The intention is to allow DSPs to offer or respond to requests for different support – not to move people into different roles or support types. We are STILL providing the same high quality support, just without the reliance on the physical buildings.
Some other changes (updates) you might notice...
Our updated website
You must have noticed it, you’re already here! If you’re new here, take a look around – we’ve got a lot to offer – and we have help available if you need it.
We’re also reimagining one of our Manager, Family Support roles.
The new responsibilities for the Manager, Service Navigation will include being the main point of contact for people and families looking for help navigating the DS Sector and Community Living Windsor supports.
We've got a lot a head of us - we're still working out a lot of the details - but our vision is strong - we know having our DSP's knowledgeable and trained in various types of support will lead to flexible on demand support that will benefit the people and families we support.
We have the best staff and we offer the best supports - we need to make both easier to access for people and families in Windsor!
