The pilot implementation in Flanders has started. The goal of this phase is to test the UNIC toolbox in Flanders. The pilot implementation phase is divided into two phases: a first phase now in February 20222 and a second phase from June 2022 onwards.
Each phase starts with a capability building workshop. The capability Building workshops in this project are conceived as training the trainers sessions (ToT). The goal of these training sessions is to train VAPH staff. On the basis of this training, they should have sufficient guidance to achieve the objective of each workshop. In total, 19 VAPH staff members have completed the first phase training to give the workshops.
In each workshop phase, the capacity building workshop or train-the-trainer workshop will be followed by workshops with the target groups, namely the persons with a disability (QMT), service providers (SDT) and VAPH staff (CAT). The first session has successfully taken place on the 28th of January 2022. The second train-the-trainer session will take place in June 2022.
Each workshop phase has its objective. The goal in phase 1 of the workshops is to gather substantive feedback on the tools and the long-term use of the tools. In this phase, no data using the tools themselves will be gathered. Based on the input gathered from the participants in the workshops in the first phase, the task leaders will make the necessary adjustments to the tools.
Each workshop for the QMT will be able to accommodate 4 people with a disability, and we have organised 4 workshops. For the SDT tool and the CAT tool 3 workshops are organised.
In total we will have 15 participants for the QMT, 16 participants for the SDT and 24 participants for the CAT.
How did VAPH recruit participants for the testphase?
For personal budget holders, people with disabilities, we used the following channels:
- Website VAPH with a call to participate in the workshops
- External VAPH newsletter with a call to participate in the workshops
- ‘Sterk’ quarterly magazine of the VAPH with a call for participation in the workshops
- Presentation Advisory Committee with the request to distribute the call to participate in the workshops within their network
- Email to organisations (assistance organisations, disabled people organisations, partner organisations) with the request to distribute the call to participate in the workshops within their network
For people with management or policy positions at VAPH licensed service providers, we used the following channels:
- Website VAPH with a call to participate in the workshops
- External VAPH newsletter for professionals. with a call to participate in the workshops
- Presentation Advisory Committee with the request to distribute the call to participate in the workshops within their network
All participants for the QMT and SDT could register via the website. An online registration module was created on the website specifically for the UNIC project, and launched in November 2021. For the CAT, a google forms document was created where VAPH staff members could apply. This was distributed in the internal newsletter at the end of November 2021 and repeated in December.
We hope for a successful course of the workshops and are looking forward to the valuable feedback of our stakeholders.