Direct payments increase in Solihull

The number of people in Solihull receiving direct payments instead of regular social care provision is increasing.

Nearly 300 service users are receiving the means tested cash payment which they can use to buy their own support, as part of three personal budget pilots run by Solihull NHS Care Trust (SCT).

The pilots are with people who have learning difficulties, people with physical and sensory impairments and individuals with long term health conditions.

SCT has agreed a contract with Enable Solihull - a collective of third sector organisations - to map local social care services, raise awareness about personal budgets, and provide support to social care providers in the process of setting up personal budgets.

SCT took part in the national personal health budgets pilot called Staying in Control, and is a provisional pilot for the Department of Health’s Personal Health Budget programme.