Children with complex health needs or who are dependent on medical technology and their families want to lead as ordinary lives as possible, but find many barriers to achieving this. However, they can be broken down through adaptations and using different funding models. In a project carried out by the Foundation of Learning Disabilities nearly 40 children and families across England gave their views about the barriers they faced in trying to achieve an ordinary life and what could be put in place to help them. Families wanted support with practical issues and support in helping them understand how systems such as social care work. Key workers can help reduce stress by helping parents to navigate through the system; ensuring families have access to home adaptations; and helping families have a connection in the community. The study also found families who had tried combined health and social care budgets were positive about the experience.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Children with complex health needs or who are dependent on medical technology and their families want to lead as ordinary lives as possible, but find many barriers to achieving this. However, they can be broken down through adaptations and using different funding models. In a project carried out by the Foundation of Learning Disabilities nearly 40 children and families across England gave their views about the barriers they faced in trying to achieve an ordinary life and what could be put in place to help them. Families wanted support with practical issues and support in helping them understand how systems such as social care work. Key workers can help reduce stress by helping parents to navigate through the system; ensuring families have access to home adaptations; and helping families have a connection in the community. The study also found families who had tried combined health and social care budgets were positive about the experience.
(Edited publisher abstract)
Subject terms:
children, families, severe learning disabilities, multiple disabilities, young people, health needs, assistive technology, social inclusion, personal budgets, quality of life;
Making the transition from children’s to adult’s services and having to manage your own a personal budget for the first time can be a daunting prospect. Dimensions support advisors provide a single point of contact for people looking for support, helping families navigate through what can seem to be ‘the social care maze’. There are 10 support advisors across the country to provide advice to families with personal budgets looking for support. This article provides a case study of a young person and her family who have been supported by a Dimensions support advisor. It describes how person-centred thinking tools were used to plan a tailor-made support package. The young person now has 3 support workers, who share the same interests as she does. As a result she has a happy busy social life. Her support plan includes aims for her to be domestically independent and this will help her through the next stages of her life. Dimensions will continue to work with her, ensuring the support reflects her needs and adapts as she develops.
Making the transition from children’s to adult’s services and having to manage your own a personal budget for the first time can be a daunting prospect. Dimensions support advisors provide a single point of contact for people looking for support, helping families navigate through what can seem to be ‘the social care maze’. There are 10 support advisors across the country to provide advice to families with personal budgets looking for support. This article provides a case study of a young person and her family who have been supported by a Dimensions support advisor. It describes how person-centred thinking tools were used to plan a tailor-made support package. The young person now has 3 support workers, who share the same interests as she does. As a result she has a happy busy social life. Her support plan includes aims for her to be domestically independent and this will help her through the next stages of her life. Dimensions will continue to work with her, ensuring the support reflects her needs and adapts as she develops.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, personal budgets, person-centred care, young people, advice services, case studies;
Project SWAP, a service user-led community interest company, is working to develop peer support brokerage aimed at helping people with mental health issues to develop a support plan and access personal budgets. Thirteen service users in Kent have recently been trained to become peer support brokers using a course developed and delivered by service users. One of the key aspects taught on the course is how to work in facilitative empowering way with service users using solution-focused approaches. The course also looks at practical communication and conflict resolution skills, positive risk taking and an understanding of personalisation and the process of getting a personal budget. People undertaking the course stand to benefit by having an opportunity to work as trained brokers and gain confidence and other skills that assist them with their own recovery. Peer support brokerage also requires the support of mental health professionals so that they refer service users to brokers and promote brokerage more widely. This is not always easy; mental health professionals may see peer support brokerage as a challenge to their professional status. Project SWAP is working to build good links with professionals and to develop strategies that will allow peer support brokerage to become widely available.
Project SWAP, a service user-led community interest company, is working to develop peer support brokerage aimed at helping people with mental health issues to develop a support plan and access personal budgets. Thirteen service users in Kent have recently been trained to become peer support brokers using a course developed and delivered by service users. One of the key aspects taught on the course is how to work in facilitative empowering way with service users using solution-focused approaches. The course also looks at practical communication and conflict resolution skills, positive risk taking and an understanding of personalisation and the process of getting a personal budget. People undertaking the course stand to benefit by having an opportunity to work as trained brokers and gain confidence and other skills that assist them with their own recovery. Peer support brokerage also requires the support of mental health professionals so that they refer service users to brokers and promote brokerage more widely. This is not always easy; mental health professionals may see peer support brokerage as a challenge to their professional status. Project SWAP is working to build good links with professionals and to develop strategies that will allow peer support brokerage to become widely available.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, peer groups, personal budgets, personalisation, recovery approach, service brokerage, service users, training, user-led organisations, peer support;
The difficulties faced by mental health trusts, councils and service users in trying to introduce self-directed support in mental health services are well rehearsed. As well as responding to the challenging target for the universal offer of personal budgets by 2013, if personalisation is to be a meaningful reality for people with mental health problems and offer them a fundamentally different relationship to services at the same time then commissioners and providers must adopt a radical change in approach. This article sets out some top tips on the key questions that need to be addressed and the groundwork that needs to be done with stakeholders to create an environment within which personalisation can be successfully rolled out for people with mental health problems, their relationship with services transformed accordingly and the benefits maximised.
The difficulties faced by mental health trusts, councils and service users in trying to introduce self-directed support in mental health services are well rehearsed. As well as responding to the challenging target for the universal offer of personal budgets by 2013, if personalisation is to be a meaningful reality for people with mental health problems and offer them a fundamentally different relationship to services at the same time then commissioners and providers must adopt a radical change in approach. This article sets out some top tips on the key questions that need to be addressed and the groundwork that needs to be done with stakeholders to create an environment within which personalisation can be successfully rolled out for people with mental health problems, their relationship with services transformed accordingly and the benefits maximised.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, personal budgets, personalisation, commissioning;
Learning Disability Today, October 2011, pp.22-23.
Publisher:
Pavilion
Place of publication:
Hove
The personalisation agenda is relatively new in healthcare. This article describes a programme of personal health budgets being piloted across about half of the 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England running until 2012. The pilot is being independently evaluated, with more than 2,000 people recruited into the evaluation. The aim is to explore how best to implement personal health budgets and who will benefit most. Personal health budgets allow people to make decisions about how money for their healthcare should be spent. There are very few restrictions on what the money can be spent on. An individual with a personal health budget will develop a care plan together with their health professional or care coordinator, and agree it with their PCT. By selecting services that meet their needs in a way that works best for them, people in the pilot can have more choice and control over the healthcare and support they receive. Personal budgets will allow greater integration of health and social care, with many people receiving a joint single budget bringing together both funding streams. The advantages of personal health budgets for people with learning disabilities are considered.
The personalisation agenda is relatively new in healthcare. This article describes a programme of personal health budgets being piloted across about half of the 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England running until 2012. The pilot is being independently evaluated, with more than 2,000 people recruited into the evaluation. The aim is to explore how best to implement personal health budgets and who will benefit most. Personal health budgets allow people to make decisions about how money for their healthcare should be spent. There are very few restrictions on what the money can be spent on. An individual with a personal health budget will develop a care plan together with their health professional or care coordinator, and agree it with their PCT. By selecting services that meet their needs in a way that works best for them, people in the pilot can have more choice and control over the healthcare and support they receive. Personal budgets will allow greater integration of health and social care, with many people receiving a joint single budget bringing together both funding streams. The advantages of personal health budgets for people with learning disabilities are considered.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, personal budgets, personalisation, care planning, health care, personal health budgets;
The sixteen chapters in this handbook, each written by an expert in their field, look at what personalisation actually means in practice for those working with people with learning disabilities. The writers consider the experiences and reflections of individuals and groups who are directing their own support, and look at how self-directed support changes the responsibilities, roles and relationships of people surrounding the person. The book focuses on the leadership roles of support staff and their managers, friends and families of people with learning disabilities, and training and development staff in creating a health and social care system where people with learning disabilities are in control. It also considers the changing system and what needs to happen for personalised services to succeed. The handbook is divided into three sections: Part one, Leaders by Experience, looks at redefining the relationship between citizen and state. Part two, Creating the Conditions, focuses on some of the ways people can help to create the conditions that make self-directed support possible. The final part looks at the broader picture and discusses what next for personalisation. Throughout the text the handbook adopts the values of In Control, an organisation that was at the forefront of the development of self-directed support and personal budgets in England.
The sixteen chapters in this handbook, each written by an expert in their field, look at what personalisation actually means in practice for those working with people with learning disabilities. The writers consider the experiences and reflections of individuals and groups who are directing their own support, and look at how self-directed support changes the responsibilities, roles and relationships of people surrounding the person. The book focuses on the leadership roles of support staff and their managers, friends and families of people with learning disabilities, and training and development staff in creating a health and social care system where people with learning disabilities are in control. It also considers the changing system and what needs to happen for personalised services to succeed. The handbook is divided into three sections: Part one, Leaders by Experience, looks at redefining the relationship between citizen and state. Part two, Creating the Conditions, focuses on some of the ways people can help to create the conditions that make self-directed support possible. The final part looks at the broader picture and discusses what next for personalisation. Throughout the text the handbook adopts the values of In Control, an organisation that was at the forefront of the development of self-directed support and personal budgets in England.
Subject terms:
interpersonal relationships, leadership, learning disabilities, personal assistants, personal budgets, personalisation, self-directed support;
While self-directed support continues to be a part of the government’s social care agenda, there is still often a lack of support mechanisms for people to manage their personal budgets. This article describes the work of West Lancs Peer Support (WLPS), an organisation set up in 1999 by parents of people with learning disabilities. WLPS has developed a PA (Personal Assistant) register to assist users to find the right people to employ and they give ongoing support to those on direct payments, the independent living funds (ILF) and individual budgets.
While self-directed support continues to be a part of the government’s social care agenda, there is still often a lack of support mechanisms for people to manage their personal budgets. This article describes the work of West Lancs Peer Support (WLPS), an organisation set up in 1999 by parents of people with learning disabilities. WLPS has developed a PA (Personal Assistant) register to assist users to find the right people to employ and they give ongoing support to those on direct payments, the independent living funds (ILF) and individual budgets.
Subject terms:
learning disabilities, peer groups, personal assistants, personal budgets, personalisation, parents, self-directed support, advocacy, carers, employment, peer support;
Briefly reports on a study which investigated the positive effect personal budgets were having on service users with mental health problems. The study from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) looked at the experiences of five study sites where new clients were being offered personal budgets. The article highlights factors that helped service users in their choices, including contact with a worker who knows their circumstances and better quality information on the personal budget options available. Views from service users are also presented.
Briefly reports on a study which investigated the positive effect personal budgets were having on service users with mental health problems. The study from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) looked at the experiences of five study sites where new clients were being offered personal budgets. The article highlights factors that helped service users in their choices, including contact with a worker who knows their circumstances and better quality information on the personal budget options available. Views from service users are also presented.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, personal budgets, self-directed support, service users;
Learning Disability Today, 10(10), December 2010, pp.24-25.
Publisher:
Pavilion
Place of publication:
Hove
Since July 2009, in partnership with Bury Council, the National Autistic Society (NAS) has run an autism-specific support brokerage for the community of Bury. The aim of the brokerage is to support people with autism to get an individual budget and to make it work for them. In April 2010 this work was recognised with a ‘Bury Adult Social Care Award’ for equality and diversity. This article describes the trials and rewards of setting up this brokerage project. The philosophy of self-directed support has had a major impact in helping Bury Council to change its focus from meeting people’s immediate needs to thinking about long-term quality of life and a more individualised approach to support. Individual budgets can be spent, not only on traditional-style services, but also on leisure activities. This article describes key issues that need to be addressed in the implementation of self-directed support and the improvement that it can make to people's lives.
Since July 2009, in partnership with Bury Council, the National Autistic Society (NAS) has run an autism-specific support brokerage for the community of Bury. The aim of the brokerage is to support people with autism to get an individual budget and to make it work for them. In April 2010 this work was recognised with a ‘Bury Adult Social Care Award’ for equality and diversity. This article describes the trials and rewards of setting up this brokerage project. The philosophy of self-directed support has had a major impact in helping Bury Council to change its focus from meeting people’s immediate needs to thinking about long-term quality of life and a more individualised approach to support. Individual budgets can be spent, not only on traditional-style services, but also on leisure activities. This article describes key issues that need to be addressed in the implementation of self-directed support and the improvement that it can make to people's lives.
Subject terms:
leisure activities, personal budgets, personalisation, quality of life, self-directed support, service brokerage, autism;
Learning Disability Today, 10(9), November 2010, pp.14-15.
Publisher:
Pavilion
Place of publication:
Hove
There is a growing demand for housing for people with learning disabilities. Research suggests that only about 500 places will be provided by social housing each year, so demand for social housing will continue to outstrip supply for the foreseeable future. This article discusses how the private rental sector may be used by people with learning disabilities in the same way as it is by the rest of the population. The advent of the local housing allowance in 2008 has created a clear individual budget for housing, which in some areas and for some people is enough for them to compete in the housing market and get a decent place to live. People with medium to severe disabilities are able to get an enhanced allowance in shared accommodation, which increases the choice available. Golden Lane Housing (GLH) has been running a pilot scheme to help people with a learning disability living in London access the private rental sector. The project assists people to access the private rented sector directly and enables GLH to take on leases from private landlords that it sublets to people with a learning disability. A case is described of how GLH enabled a woman to set up in a place of her own.
There is a growing demand for housing for people with learning disabilities. Research suggests that only about 500 places will be provided by social housing each year, so demand for social housing will continue to outstrip supply for the foreseeable future. This article discusses how the private rental sector may be used by people with learning disabilities in the same way as it is by the rest of the population. The advent of the local housing allowance in 2008 has created a clear individual budget for housing, which in some areas and for some people is enough for them to compete in the housing market and get a decent place to live. People with medium to severe disabilities are able to get an enhanced allowance in shared accommodation, which increases the choice available. Golden Lane Housing (GLH) has been running a pilot scheme to help people with a learning disability living in London access the private rental sector. The project assists people to access the private rented sector directly and enables GLH to take on leases from private landlords that it sublets to people with a learning disability. A case is described of how GLH enabled a woman to set up in a place of her own.
Subject terms:
housing, learning disabilities, personal budgets, private sector, rented accommodation;