Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living
Work With Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (LCiL)
About Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living
LCiL is a user-led organisation supporting disabled people, older people, individuals with long-term health conditions, their carers, and families across Edinburgh and the Lothians. The organisation offers a range of services to support Independent Living, which are developed and managed by and for disabled people. LCiL supports the right of disabled people to live independently and take control of their own lives, while challenging the attitudes, physical, and social barriers that create disability.
LCiL has its origins in the work of the Lothian Independent Living Group (LILG), a consumer group of disabled people, and the Lothian Coalition of Disabled People (LCDP), the former Lothian-wide campaigning organisation for disabled people. Both groups were concerned with equality for disabled people and subscribed to the Independent Living philosophy. In 1989, LILG and LCDP recognised the importance of establishing an organisation that would provide a range of services based on needs directly identified by local disabled people, that would adhere to the social model of disability, and that would be directly accountable to disabled people.
In 1991, LCiL became the first organisation of its kind in Scotland, with a basis firmly rooted in the national and international disability movement.
LCiL's Mission & Culture
LCiL’s mission statement is: LCiL provides solutions to live an independent life for disabled people, individuals with long-term conditions, and older people, in an accessible and supportive environment with an inclusive and clear voice. The organisation helps users feel empowered and valued, giving them the confidence to take control of their lives.
LCiL fosters an open and friendly culture. It operates as a collaborative environment that benefits from the lived experiences of disabled people. LCiL is flexible, inclusive, and offers opportunities for growth, learning, and development.
LCiL's Commitment as a Disabled People's Organisation (DPO)
LCiL is a Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO), meaning it is led by disabled people and those who use its services. As an authentic voice within the DPO movement, LCiL plays a key role in advocating for the rights of disabled individuals. The organisation employs a rights-based approach to both strategy and service delivery, with its advice, information, and support services actively promoting and protecting the human rights of disabled people and their carers.
By working collaboratively, LCiL enhances the capacity of those responsible for fulfilling rights to recognise, understand, and implement them, ensuring they are held accountable. Working with LCiL means contributing to the ongoing development of its mission, as the organisation delivers and grows person-led, innovative, and high-quality services that are shaped by the voices, experiences, rights, and capabilities of disabled people.
Independent Living Service
Their Independent Living Service provides advice, information, and support on all aspects of Self-Direct Support. The Independent Living Officers enable disabled people who choose to self-direct their own care to live independently.
They support and inform disabled people in exploring which Self-Directed Support option(s) are best for them by assisting them in understanding the nature and effect of the four options. Additionally, they support disabled people in understanding and managing their rights and responsibilities as employers and in adhering to employment legislation.
The Independent Living Officers also support with recruitment for Personal Assistant Employers, helping cover all aspects of recruitment from writing person specifications and job descriptions to placing adverts. They can attend interviews if necessary and offer interviewing techniques.
For those employing Personal Assistants, they assist with drawing up contracts of employment and provide up-to-date information on employment legislation. The Independent Living Officers work with employers to understand their support plan and maximize their budget, as well as provide guidance in accessing other services available within LCiL and through other providers.
They can also support disabled people who receive funding from Independent Living Fund Scotland, funding from other sources, and those who privately fund their care.
Peer Support and Learning
Their Peer Support and Learning service facilitates peer support groups and information sessions to assist disabled people, older adults, those with long-term health conditions, and their carers in Edinburgh and the Lothians. These groups strengthen knowledge, skills, and confidence in all aspects of Self-Directed Support (SDS) and available social care options.
The group and information sessions empower and support individuals, fostering connection and community through shared experiences that help reduce isolation. They provide a safe space for participants to share thoughts and experiences related to SDS and to ask questions.
The sessions are welcoming, relaxed, and informal, bringing people together to discuss the aspects of SDS that matter to them.
Disability Advice and Information Service
Their Disability Advice and Information Service provides welfare benefits advice, with a strong focus on disability-related benefits, as well as information on various disability-related topics.
They offer accessible advice, information, and support to disabled people regarding Universal Credit, including assistance with the managed migration process for all means-tested benefits.
They deliver information sessions to help disabled people maximize their income and understand additional support options available to them.
They also support disabled people experiencing the impact of rising day-to-day costs through the Cost-of-Living Support Service. Through this project, they provide welfare benefits advice and support, along with information workshops to help improve disabled people’s financial well-being and stability.
Payroll Service
LCiL provides a comprehensive, computerized payroll service for an average of over 650 Personal Assistant Employers who collectively employ more than 1,000 Personal Assistants each month.
They produce payroll information that is accurate, seamless, and efficient, in compliance with UK laws, regulations, and company policies.
They work closely with Personal Assistant Employers to support them in managing SDS and ensuring they understand their responsibilities. By building strong relationships with Personal Assistant Employers and local authorities, LCiL helps make payroll processing easier for all involved.
Financial Management Service
Their Financial Management Service provides financial support by holding bank accounts in service users’ names, ensuring access to SDS care packages.
The service is tailored to suit individual circumstances, enabling those with limited capacity to benefit from flexible support without facing challenges in managing it.
They make payments to Personal Assistants processed through the payroll service and handle other relevant payments, such as to HMRC and for pensions.
Additionally, they pay invoices on behalf of service users from their accounts, covering agencies, direct providers, and any payments approved by the local authority.
Future Vision & Ambitions
LCiL is currently developing a three-year strategic plan that outlines its priorities for the years to come. A central focus of this plan includes creating a new business model for LCiL’s payroll service, especially relevant to the Payroll Manager role.
The organisation’s broader goals include:
- Informing and influencing policies and decisions that impact disabled people, individuals with long-term conditions, older people, and their rights.
- Ensuring that all LCiL services and projects are designed as opportunities for self-empowerment and active involvement in the organisation.
- Providing services and projects that enable disabled people, those with long-term conditions, and older individuals to achieve their personal goals and live in a way that reflects their own aspirations and choices.
