Self-Directed Support Giving People Control of Their Lives

What I'd like to talk about today How the Care Trust Plus is trying to give more choice and control to people who get care. Why is it being done? Where is it being tried? Is it working? What's happening in North East Lincolnshire? What does this mean for people who get support and their carers?

What usually happens when people ask for help Assessment by professionals Decision about eligibility – not everyone is eligible for publicly funded social care “Care plan” – setting out who does what and when is developed by professionals Care plan starts and is monitored, reviewed and changed as necessary

What happens under self-directed support‏? The Care Trust’s assessment includes “self-assessment” questions Decision about eligibility Person told how much money the Care Trust will spend on their care Person invited to develop a “Support Plan” setting out how the money will be used to achieve agreed outcomes Monitoring & review focuses on outcomes and changes are made as necessary

Why is it being done? Pressure from disability groups Continuing moves towards “personalisation” Dissatisfaction with current approaches, e.g. direct payments

Where is it being tried? Started in learning disabilities – “in Control” 13 “Individual Budget” pilot sites Most advanced probably Oldham Barnsley & Lincolnshire nearest to us According to in Control, most of the 150 social services authorities are now committed

Is it working? Formal evaluation was done in 13 pilot sites – this was published in October 2008 “Transforming Social Care” grant of £500 million over next three years – by March 2011, authorities should be offering everyone who is eligible for publicly funded social care a personal budget The Government is pushing ahead with “personalisation” not just in social care but also other areas – including Health

What did the evaluation say? Individual budgets generally welcomed by users – they got more control over their own lives Satisfaction was highest among people with mental health problems and people with physical disabilities; lowest among older people Little difference between average cost of an individual budget and costs of conventional social care Individual budgets posed a number of challenges for pilot staff implementing them and raise important issues for debate

What did the evaluation say? (2)‏ Among the challenges... Self-directed support involves taking risks Professional roles will change Culture has to change Providers will have to become even more flexible “CHANGE”

What happens next in North East Lincolnshire? Some of the things we're doing Using “self-assessment” questions as part of wider assessment of need Developing policies & procedures, e.g. resource allocation system (RAS)‏ Offering personal budgets North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus is also taking part in a national pilot to introduce self-directed support in the NHS Now need to consider whether to use the same approach for carers

How is it working? 102 people getting “self-directed support” Some choosing to take control; others asking CTP to take lead Fundamental change for people working in social care Has to be done within budget! Review of progress in first 6 months under way

What does this mean for people who get support and their carers? It's a very different way of getting support to people who need it – one that gives them more control and independence It's vital to get it right not just for people who need support, but also for their carers We need help from people who get help and their carers to make this happen – they can tell us what works and what doesn't With their help, and help from everyone involved (including providers), we believe that self-directed support will be a better way for people to get social care