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.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Worcester brokerage team in place
Worcestershire County Council’s internal brokerage service is up and running with the appointment of a 14 strong permanent brokerage team.
The new team consists of a manager, two team leaders, eight brokerage officers and three brokerage assistants.
Their role is to find appropriate care for service users and negotiate the best price for services.
Brokers will not have direct contact with service users or their carers, but will work closely with social workers and service providers to ensure a good care package is in place.
After identifying possible care options, informing providers of the services required and negotiating a price, brokers will pass the information on to social workers for discussion with service users. When a decision is made the brokerage team will complete the purchase.
Brokers work on behalf of the council’s adult social care services and service users with personal budgets.
The brokerage system is seen as an effective alternative to traditional commissioning methods, offering greater choice, flexibility and increased efficiency. Different models are on trial in other authorities – Herefordshire County Council is testing an external brokerage scheme which uses independent brokers.
Worcestershire’s brokerage team can be contacted on 01905 822504, email: BrokerageTeam@worcestershire.gov.uk.
The new team consists of a manager, two team leaders, eight brokerage officers and three brokerage assistants.
Their role is to find appropriate care for service users and negotiate the best price for services.
Brokers will not have direct contact with service users or their carers, but will work closely with social workers and service providers to ensure a good care package is in place.
After identifying possible care options, informing providers of the services required and negotiating a price, brokers will pass the information on to social workers for discussion with service users. When a decision is made the brokerage team will complete the purchase.
Brokers work on behalf of the council’s adult social care services and service users with personal budgets.
The brokerage system is seen as an effective alternative to traditional commissioning methods, offering greater choice, flexibility and increased efficiency. Different models are on trial in other authorities – Herefordshire County Council is testing an external brokerage scheme which uses independent brokers.
Worcestershire’s brokerage team can be contacted on 01905 822504, email: BrokerageTeam@worcestershire.gov.uk.
Self assessment tool for providers
Worcester City Council has designed a self assessment tool to help service providers adapt to personalisation of services in adult social care.
Its purpose is to help business owners understand and identify new opportunities in social care and to assess the impact personalisation may have on the services they provide.
The tool will allow them to analyse which parts of their business may need further development and if they require support from the council.
It focuses on four key elements for change:
· Delivering Flexible Support
· New Types of Services
· Workforce
· Systems and Process
Click Provider Self Assessment Tool
Its purpose is to help business owners understand and identify new opportunities in social care and to assess the impact personalisation may have on the services they provide.
The tool will allow them to analyse which parts of their business may need further development and if they require support from the council.
It focuses on four key elements for change:
· Delivering Flexible Support
· New Types of Services
· Workforce
· Systems and Process
Click Provider Self Assessment Tool
Birmingham evaluation available
Evaluation of Birmingham City Council’s trial of self directed support, including individual budgets for service users, is available to local authorities in the region for free.
The one year trial and its findings are detailed in the report ‘Older Adults Pilot Evaluation - Resource allocation system and support planning’.
The trial included development of ways to help service users take greater control of planning their own support. This included creation of a Resource Allocation System (RAS) – the basis for allocating individual budgets once need and eligibility had been confirmed; and processes and materials to assist service users in developing individual support plans.
Fifteen recommendations are specified in the report, including the continuation of RAS and creating a programme for promoting cultural change.
For a copy of the report email: maria.b.gavin@birmingham.gov.uk
The trial included development of ways to help service users take greater control of planning their own support. This included creation of a Resource Allocation System (RAS) – the basis for allocating individual budgets once need and eligibility had been confirmed; and processes and materials to assist service users in developing individual support plans.
Fifteen recommendations are specified in the report, including the continuation of RAS and creating a programme for promoting cultural change.
For a copy of the report email: maria.b.gavin@birmingham.gov.uk
Rough guide to personalisation
A free guide to personalisation is available from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).
Personalisation: a rough guide, defines the different types of personal budgets available; it explains how the idea of personalisation came about , what it is intended to do, and its impact on the workforce, third sector oganisations, private providers, user led organisations and commissioning.
SCIE carries out research, identifies good practice in social care and disseminates its findings.
It is an independent charity funded by the Department of Health, Department for Children Schools and Families, and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Click here for a copy.
All of SCIE’s publications and other resources are free.
Useful links on the SCIE website:
-Personalisation briefing – Implications for commissioners
-Personalisation briefing – Implications for carers
·SCIE research briefing 20: The implementation of individual budget schemes in adult social care
Personalisation: a rough guide, defines the different types of personal budgets available; it explains how the idea of personalisation came about , what it is intended to do, and its impact on the workforce, third sector oganisations, private providers, user led organisations and commissioning.
SCIE carries out research, identifies good practice in social care and disseminates its findings.
It is an independent charity funded by the Department of Health, Department for Children Schools and Families, and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland.
Click here for a copy.
All of SCIE’s publications and other resources are free.
Useful links on the SCIE website:
-Personalisation briefing – Implications for commissioners
-Personalisation briefing – Implications for carers
·SCIE research briefing 20: The implementation of individual budget schemes in adult social care
Festival of ideas
JIP West Midlands has joined with Innovation Exchange – a consultancy supporting innovation in the third sector - to stage Innovation for Personalisation: A Festival of Ideas, on 26 November 2009.
The one day event puts third sector organisations running innovative adult social care projects in touch with commissioners and investors looking to buy or develop personalised services.
The festival takes place in The Orange Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP, from 9.30am-4.00pm. Look out for your invitation which will be sent to all adult social care departments in the region.
The event will be attended by senior figures from the public sector across the West Midlands, as well as leading innovators and investors.
Expert advice will be given on how to cultivate fledgling projects and ideas.
Innovators and investors will:
· Hear about the most advanced and effective existing provision
· Make contact with people behind the best new ideas and projects in the third sector
· Help shape the work of innovators to deliver effective and appropriate care services
· Have the opportunity to consider collaborating with existing or new innovations
· Find ways to meet the requirements of Putting People First by supporting projects
Eric Robinson, JIP Lead on Personalisation, ADASS and Corporate Director of Social Care and Health in Staffordshire County Council says:
“We need to work together with passion and commitment to help everyone lead fulfilling, independent lives.
This is an important event for the JIP in helping us to find high potential innovation projects that are making personalisation a reality.”
Key themes for the day include:
· Support brokerage and advocacy
· Advice, information and guidance
· Potential of user led and community led approaches
· Safeguarding and risk management
· Potential of new technology
Director of Innovation Exchange John Craig says: “This event brings all the relevant people together in one place. It can take months to find the right person to pitch your ideas to. Likewise commissioners in the public sector know there are lots of fantastic projects out there but don’t have the time to find them.”
John can be contacted by email: John.Craig@Innovation-unit.co.uk
Innovation Exchange would like to hear of any fledgling proposals or innovation projects in advance of the event. People with the best ideas will receive a festival invitation. Click here for details.
The one day event puts third sector organisations running innovative adult social care projects in touch with commissioners and investors looking to buy or develop personalised services.
The festival takes place in The Orange Studio, 7 Cannon Street, Birmingham, B2 5EP, from 9.30am-4.00pm. Look out for your invitation which will be sent to all adult social care departments in the region.
The event will be attended by senior figures from the public sector across the West Midlands, as well as leading innovators and investors.
Expert advice will be given on how to cultivate fledgling projects and ideas.
Innovators and investors will:
· Hear about the most advanced and effective existing provision
· Make contact with people behind the best new ideas and projects in the third sector
· Help shape the work of innovators to deliver effective and appropriate care services
· Have the opportunity to consider collaborating with existing or new innovations
· Find ways to meet the requirements of Putting People First by supporting projects
Eric Robinson, JIP Lead on Personalisation, ADASS and Corporate Director of Social Care and Health in Staffordshire County Council says:
“We need to work together with passion and commitment to help everyone lead fulfilling, independent lives.
This is an important event for the JIP in helping us to find high potential innovation projects that are making personalisation a reality.”
Key themes for the day include:
· Support brokerage and advocacy
· Advice, information and guidance
· Potential of user led and community led approaches
· Safeguarding and risk management
· Potential of new technology
Director of Innovation Exchange John Craig says: “This event brings all the relevant people together in one place. It can take months to find the right person to pitch your ideas to. Likewise commissioners in the public sector know there are lots of fantastic projects out there but don’t have the time to find them.”
John can be contacted by email: John.Craig@Innovation-unit.co.uk
Innovation Exchange would like to hear of any fledgling proposals or innovation projects in advance of the event. People with the best ideas will receive a festival invitation. Click here for details.
Making care personal
Welcome to the JIP e-bulletin. In this issue we focus on the personalisation of adult social care services as part of the government’s Putting People First agenda.
Public sector workers across the West Midlands are already transforming the way adult social care services are designed, delivered and received to meet the needs of the user.
However, personalisation, which gives users control over their own budgets to buy services and support to suit them, sets a new challenge for local authorities, and needs a radical approach to make it work.
Service providers across the region are demonstrating dedication, drive and commitment in their efforts to find new ways of catering for rapidly growing numbers of adults receiving social care - 1.7 million more people will need care and support by 2026.
Numerous examples of innovative services reflecting changing needs and expectations already exist. The JIP has allocated substantial resources to help local authorities introduce new ways of working with the focus on personalisation – see the JIP business plan for details.
On 26 November we will host with consultancy Innovation Exchange an event where third sector organisation representatives, public sector commissioners and other investors, can come together, exchange ideas and possibly commission new personalised services – read the story Festival of Ideas for more information.
Our aim is to enable those local authorities responsible for adult social care to be at the cutting edge of providing personalised services that give individuals more choice and control.
Public sector workers across the West Midlands are already transforming the way adult social care services are designed, delivered and received to meet the needs of the user.
However, personalisation, which gives users control over their own budgets to buy services and support to suit them, sets a new challenge for local authorities, and needs a radical approach to make it work.
Service providers across the region are demonstrating dedication, drive and commitment in their efforts to find new ways of catering for rapidly growing numbers of adults receiving social care - 1.7 million more people will need care and support by 2026.
Numerous examples of innovative services reflecting changing needs and expectations already exist. The JIP has allocated substantial resources to help local authorities introduce new ways of working with the focus on personalisation – see the JIP business plan for details.
On 26 November we will host with consultancy Innovation Exchange an event where third sector organisation representatives, public sector commissioners and other investors, can come together, exchange ideas and possibly commission new personalised services – read the story Festival of Ideas for more information.
Our aim is to enable those local authorities responsible for adult social care to be at the cutting edge of providing personalised services that give individuals more choice and control.
Eric Robinson
JIP Lead on Personalisation and
Corporate Director of Social Care and Health, Staffordshire County Council
JIP Lead on Personalisation and
Corporate Director of Social Care and Health, Staffordshire County Council
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