...authorities on people who would prefer their personal budget to be managed in other ways; their adoption leading to an unnecessary and unwarranted invasion of privacy; undue and unnecessary restrictions on choice and control. Out of 152 local authorities, 69 reported using payment cards, with other authorities considering their introduction. The use of payment cards means that local authorities can view
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report analyses the results of Freedom of Information (FOI) returns from English councils with statutory social services responsibilities on their use of payment cards – a way for local authorities to manage the allocation of funding for people receiving a direct social care payment. The analysis was interested in three main issues in relation to payment cards: their imposition by local authorities on people who would prefer their personal budget to be managed in other ways; their adoption leading to an unnecessary and unwarranted invasion of privacy; undue and unnecessary restrictions on choice and control. Out of 152 local authorities, 69 reported using payment cards, with other authorities considering their introduction. The use of payment cards means that local authorities can view transactions disabled people make on the cards by accessing the client’s account and suspend use of a card if they do not approve of how people are using the cards. Increasing use of payment cards also raises concerns of whether people receiving direct payments get choice about how they receive their payments, as stipulated in Care Act guidance. The report makes 10 recommendations for local authorities who are using or thinking of using payment cards to ensure they comply with Care Act guidance by offering people choice and control over how their support is delivered. The report was written by In Control and published by the Shaw Trust, on behalf of the Independent Living Strategy group.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
local authorities, Care Act 2014, direct payments, choice, service users, privacy;
This report presents the findings of an online survey to examine the impact of the Care Act on the lives of disabled people in England. A total of 485 responses were analysed. The report discusses the findings in the following areas: experience of direct payments; choice and control; quality of life and wellbeing; quality and level of support; experiences of assessments and reviews...
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report presents the findings of an online survey to examine the impact of the Care Act on the lives of disabled people in England. A total of 485 responses were analysed. The report discusses the findings in the following areas: experience of direct payments; choice and control; quality of life and wellbeing; quality and level of support; experiences of assessments and reviews; and the experiences of former Independent Living Fund recipients. Just under half (48%) of all respondents reported that the choice and control they enjoyed over their support was poor and over half (58%) of respondents reported that their quality of life had reduced or reduced significantly over the past 12 months. Over a third of respondents struggle to find the information and advice they need, with many people relying on friends, family and user led organisations to provide the information they need; two out of five (41%) former Independent Living Fund recipients reported that the amount of their support had decreased or decreased a lot, and one third (33%) said that their quality of support had got worse. Although the majority (86%) of people reported that when their local authority had assessed their needs they had listened or partly listened to them, one in four people had been told their support would be reduced because of cuts or the need to make savings. The report concludes that local authorities need to do more to meet the expectations of the Care Act. A planning tool for local authorities is included, to help local authorities and user led organisations to agree what action is required local to address the issues in the report.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
local authorities, surveys, Care Act 2014, choice, social care provision, information needs, needs assessment, service users, wellbeing;
...and their parents in the care planning and decision making process; collaboration between practitioners; identifying and meeting needs; and choice and control over support. Respondents were generally positive about the process and involvement. Two thirds of practitioners also reported that EHCPs had helped them to work in partnership with colleagues. However parents were less happy about the levels of support
(Edited publisher abstract)
Reports on results from the Personal Outcomes Evaluation Tool (POET) survey, which aims to measure the experience and impact of Education Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and personal budgets for young people with special educational needs and their families. The survey involved 70 local authority children’s services across England, providing a total of 2,989 responses from practitioners across health, social care and education; 1,879 responses from parents/carers; and 906 from children and young people who had experience of EHCPs. The survey looks at how the three groups have experienced the introduction of EHCPs and the impact it is having on their lives. The report outlines the findings for each group separately. Issues discussed include the participation of children, young people and their parents in the care planning and decision making process; collaboration between practitioners; identifying and meeting needs; and choice and control over support. Respondents were generally positive about the process and involvement. Two thirds of practitioners also reported that EHCPs had helped them to work in partnership with colleagues. However parents were less happy about the levels of support and choice they received, with only 47 per cent of parents/carers and 51 per cent of children and young people feel the degree of choice and control over support was good or very good. Appendices provide a table detailing factors associated with support, processes and outcomes for children and young people according to parents/carers, practitioners, and children and young people themselves.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
surveys, outcomes, children, young people, disabilities, special educational needs, care planning, local authorities, health care, user views, evaluation, parents;
Reports on a project which set out to make improvements to the lives and support received by children and young people with complex needs by moving to a single 'whole life, whole family' approach. Six local authorities and their partners participated in the project. Using the life experience of the children, young people and their families' and their experiences of support to date, a new plan of support which centred on thinking whole life and whole family was developed. The report highlights the importance of thinking how to engage the important 'non-professionals' in a family's life and using the strengths and assets that already exist. It also provides a simple framework, which helps people working with children to recognise the need to be flexible, make the base use of skills and knowledge in the local workforce, and to be child and family centred. The report is available in both a printed and online version. The online version contains links to audio files containing the reflections and learning from those involved in the project.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Reports on a project which set out to make improvements to the lives and support received by children and young people with complex needs by moving to a single 'whole life, whole family' approach. Six local authorities and their partners participated in the project. Using the life experience of the children, young people and their families' and their experiences of support to date, a new plan of support which centred on thinking whole life and whole family was developed. The report highlights the importance of thinking how to engage the important 'non-professionals' in a family's life and using the strengths and assets that already exist. It also provides a simple framework, which helps people working with children to recognise the need to be flexible, make the base use of skills and knowledge in the local workforce, and to be child and family centred. The report is available in both a printed and online version. The online version contains links to audio files containing the reflections and learning from those involved in the project.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
children, young people, person-centred care, family-centred approach, care planning, families, complex needs, learning disabilities, disabilities;
This paper focuses on a new model of public offer, based on a new kind of relationship between citizens and communities and public institutions characterised less by dependence and inequality and encouraging stakeholders to work as partners. The paper provides detail about the process, the mechanics of system-change which is require to support this approach and considers in particular the part each stakeholder might play, in bringing about this systemic transformation. It sets out the values in which the new offer to people is rooted, including transparency, inclusion, sufficiency and self-determination, and maps out what the landscape of support around an individual or family might look like. This comprises: targeted services focusing on whole life outcomes; individual supports, including personal budgets, designed to help the individual achieve outcomes that they have defined, in ways that keep them included and not isolated; community wealth and assets, supported by public funding; and universal services, promoting community cohesion and public health and reducing health inequalities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This paper focuses on a new model of public offer, based on a new kind of relationship between citizens and communities and public institutions characterised less by dependence and inequality and encouraging stakeholders to work as partners. The paper provides detail about the process, the mechanics of system-change which is require to support this approach and considers in particular the part each stakeholder might play, in bringing about this systemic transformation. It sets out the values in which the new offer to people is rooted, including transparency, inclusion, sufficiency and self-determination, and maps out what the landscape of support around an individual or family might look like. This comprises: targeted services focusing on whole life outcomes; individual supports, including personal budgets, designed to help the individual achieve outcomes that they have defined, in ways that keep them included and not isolated; community wealth and assets, supported by public funding; and universal services, promoting community cohesion and public health and reducing health inequalities.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
person-centred care, integrated services, user participation, community development, capacity building, co-production, personal budgets, social inclusion;
This report brings together the findings from a survey of social care recipients and analysis of local authority guidance on the Care Act to explore local authority’s performance in relation to choice and control. It also looks specifically at the experiences of people transitioning from the Independent Living Fund to local authority funded support, exploring whether there has been any reduction...
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report brings together the findings from a survey of social care recipients and analysis of local authority guidance on the Care Act to explore local authority’s performance in relation to choice and control. It also looks specifically at the experiences of people transitioning from the Independent Living Fund to local authority funded support, exploring whether there has been any reduction in the support that they receive or fresh restrictions imposed on choice and control. A total of 399 people from 108 different local authority areas responded to the survey, which was conducted by the Independent Living Strategy Group in April and May 2015. Despite emphasis on wellbeing, choice and control within the Care Act the survey found near half of respondents felt their quality of life had reduced and 30% experienced a reduction in choice and control. Analysis of local authority guidance found that local authorities are generally not yet meeting their duties to provide people with clear information. Analysis also found local authority guidance rarely emphasised choice and control and the universal entitlement to a personal budget. A checklist to help local authorities meet their obligations and to support those seeking and receiving care to understand their rights is included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
local authorities, Care Act 2014, rights, choice, information needs, wellbeing, access to information, service users, person-centred care, quality of life, social care provision;
This document is designed to support local authorities and other commissioners to develop information, advice and guidance for families under the new SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) reforms. The SEND reforms include new joined up assessments and education, health and care plans for children and young people with SEND, these should also include agreeing the information that should be provided, how it should be provided and by whom. This document includes 10 key principles which information should be based. These are: impartiality, accessibility, co-production, geographical specificity, multiple formats and languages, cultural sensitivity, speed, diversity of need, signposting and advice, guidance and support. Recommendations to help in the implementation of localised action plans to support families in making decisions are also included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This document is designed to support local authorities and other commissioners to develop information, advice and guidance for families under the new SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) reforms. The SEND reforms include new joined up assessments and education, health and care plans for children and young people with SEND, these should also include agreeing the information that should be provided, how it should be provided and by whom. This document includes 10 key principles which information should be based. These are: impartiality, accessibility, co-production, geographical specificity, multiple formats and languages, cultural sensitivity, speed, diversity of need, signposting and advice, guidance and support. Recommendations to help in the implementation of localised action plans to support families in making decisions are also included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
special educational needs, local authorities, advice services, families, information needs, access to information, children, young people, interagency cooperation, disabilities, information services;
This report presents findings from the limited initial testing of a new version of POET, a personal outcomes evaluation tool, designed to measure the process and impact of education health and care (EHC) plans and personal budgets for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). In total 133 people completed the POET surveys, commenting on their experience of either EHC plans (and in some cases personal budgets), or just personal budgets. Sixty-one of these were practitioners working to implement EHC plans or personal budgets, and 72 were parents/carers who have had experience of them. Both parents/carers and practitioners were broadly positive about the process of EHC plans or personal budgets with parents/carers being more positive than practitioners and both were clear about the areas that needed to improve. Both groups identified working in partnership and keeping the process simple as key priorities. These findings demonstrate the potential capacity of POET to become a user-friendly evaluation mechanism for local authorities and families, able to provide clear evidence about the impact of introducing EHC plans and personal budgets. Following further testing, a refined tool is expected to be made available from spring 2015 for use nationally.
(Edited publisher abstract)
This report presents findings from the limited initial testing of a new version of POET, a personal outcomes evaluation tool, designed to measure the process and impact of education health and care (EHC) plans and personal budgets for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). In total 133 people completed the POET surveys, commenting on their experience of either EHC plans (and in some cases personal budgets), or just personal budgets. Sixty-one of these were practitioners working to implement EHC plans or personal budgets, and 72 were parents/carers who have had experience of them. Both parents/carers and practitioners were broadly positive about the process of EHC plans or personal budgets with parents/carers being more positive than practitioners and both were clear about the areas that needed to improve. Both groups identified working in partnership and keeping the process simple as key priorities. These findings demonstrate the potential capacity of POET to become a user-friendly evaluation mechanism for local authorities and families, able to provide clear evidence about the impact of introducing EHC plans and personal budgets. Following further testing, a refined tool is expected to be made available from spring 2015 for use nationally.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
planning, education, health care, social care, personal budgets, children, young people, disabilities, special educational needs, outcomes, evaluation, care planning;
One of three briefing papers prepared to help voluntary sector providers of children's palliative care care services, including children's hospices, prepare for the introduction of personal budgets in September 2014. The briefing provides an introduction to personal budgets and looks at how they have worked already in other settings, such as adult social care. It also includes real-life case studies and links to other resources and best practice examples.
(Edited publisher abstract)
One of three briefing papers prepared to help voluntary sector providers of children's palliative care care services, including children's hospices, prepare for the introduction of personal budgets in September 2014. The briefing provides an introduction to personal budgets and looks at how they have worked already in other settings, such as adult social care. It also includes real-life case studies and links to other resources and best practice examples.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
personal budgets, children, families, palliative care, hospices, disabilities, voluntary sector;
One of three briefing papers prepared to help voluntary sector providers of children's palliative care care services, including children's hospices, prepare for the introduction of personal budgets in September 2014. This briefing provides advice to families of children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions wishing to use a personal budget, and outlines seven steps for them to consider. Brief case studies and links to other resources and best practice examples are also included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
One of three briefing papers prepared to help voluntary sector providers of children's palliative care care services, including children's hospices, prepare for the introduction of personal budgets in September 2014. This briefing provides advice to families of children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions wishing to use a personal budget, and outlines seven steps for them to consider. Brief case studies and links to other resources and best practice examples are also included.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
children, families, personal budgets, hospices, palliative care, disabilities, voluntary sector;