WIGAN AND LEIGH CARERS FORUM OPEN MEETING Louise Sutton Department of Adult Services 19 th February 2010 What exactly is a Personal Budget? What can or cannot it be spent on?

WHAT IS A PERSONAL BUDGET? The individual knows how much funding is available to pay for their social care. Individual Budget was the term used in a national pilot exercise and includes funds from other agencies e.g. DFG, Health. This has not yet been progressed further.

WHAT IS SELF-DIRECTED CARE? The individual has a Personal Budget and designs how it us used. WHAT IS A DIRECT PAYMENT? Personal Budget funds taken as a cash payment. The individual takes legal responsibility for meeting needs.

DO I HAVE TO HAVE A DIRECT PAYMENT? 2 Options: Direct Payment Council arranges care and holds the person’s Personal Budget.

WHAT EXACTLY IS A PERSONAL BUDGET? Monies available to the individual following an assessment under the NHS and Community Care Act (and other legislation). The assessment is led as far as possible by the person in partnership with the professional (Social Worker) and focuses on the outcomes that they and their family want to achieve in meeting eligible needs.

WHAT ARE ELIGIBLE NEEDS? Autonomy: Choice and Control over vital aspects of the immediate environment. Health and Safety: e.g. abuse, neglect, life threatening situations. Management of Daily Routes: Personal care, involvement work, education, learning. Involvement in Family or Community Life: Social support systems and relationships including family roles. This is determined by Fair Access to Care Guidance:

WHICH NEEDS ARE ELIGIBLE? 4 Levels of Needs Critical and Substantial needs are eligible under the Council’s current policy Moderate and Low are not. So: Social Care funds are not given to fund moderate and low needs.

WHAT ARE OUTCOMES? What the individual, or person acting on their behalf, wants to achieve in meeting their needs. E.g. attending day care to improve emotional well-being.

Autonomy Outcomes ▪Access to all areas of the home ▪Access to locality & wider environment ▪Communication, direct & control ▪Financial security ▪Home maintenance Personal Well-being Outcomes ▪Personal hygiene ▪Safety ▪Security ▪Desired level of cleanliness at home ▪Emotional well-being ▪Physical health Economic Participation Outcomes ▪Access to paid employment as desired ▪Access to training ▪Access to further/higher education to secure employment ▪Access to appropriate training for new skills Social Participation Outcomes ▪Access to mainstream leisure activities ▪Access to support in parenting role ▪Access to support for personal relationships ▪Access to advocacy/peer support ▪Citizenship

WHAT CAN AND CANNOT A PERSONAL BUDGET BE SPENT ON? Meeting an eligible need. Achieving an outcome which is agreed in the assessment. How needs are met and outcomes achieved are outlined in the Support Plan.

As a general guide, the money would not normally be available to spend on things a person without eligible needs would spend their own money on e.g. theatre tickets, holidays, leisure activities. But it may be spent on additional costs associated with accessing such activities e.g. paying a PA to escort to theatre.

Social Care funding is not the same as funds available through the Benefits System e.g. Attendance Allowance, Carers’ Allowance. It is only accessible via an assessment under the NHS and Community Care Act, to spend on eligible needs and agreed outcomes.