Support Choice and
Independence – A Presentation on Transformation in Social
Care
The Interim Deputy
Director of Adult Social Care and the Interim Head of
Transformation provided a presentation and short video on Support
Choice and Independence / Transformation in Social Care.
The following points
were noted:
Background
- The Transformation
Agenda is the largest change to Social Care since the
1990’s.
- Support, Choice and
Independence aims to develop a universal offer to help people make
the right choices for their specific needs through self directed
support.
- Self Directed Support
(SDS) is a new system in which the person needing support is
empowered to determine the support they need in contrast to the old
system whereby professionals made all the decisions.
An New
National Indicator 130
- To be counted, the
person must be getting a direct payment, or have a personal budget
which meets the following criteria:
- The person (or their
representative) has been informed about a clear, upfront allocation
of funding.
- There is an agreed
support plan making clear what outcomes can be achieved with the
money.
- The person (or their
representative) can use the money in ways and at times of their
choosing.
The Transformation Programme
- This provides full
support for customers to make the most of the system and find the
right support options.
- This provides real
choice in the range of support options available and control in how
they are received.
- This helps people
maintain independence and enjoy fuller lives.
- Extended information
and advice support for all.
Timescale for Self Directed Support
- The Support, Choice
and Independence programme will run over the next 2 years.
- Two pilots are taking
place in 2009.
- The Authority is
currently setting an ambitious target for implementing (SDS).
The
Benefits of SDS
- Greater choice in
support and services to meet need.
- Increased levels of
independence.
- Greater autonomy in
decision making.
- The promotion of
equity.
- Empowering
customers.
- The use of
‘individual budgets’.
Key Risks and Challenges
- Carers needs as well
as those of the citizen with the individual budget.
- Positive risk taking
and enablement.
- Safeguarding.
- Choice in support:
the use of unregulated services and provision.
- Commissioning and
decommissioning.
- Community resources
and market development.
- Performance rating
and recording.
- Financial
forecasting.
- Workforce.
- Citizen engagement in
the change process.
- All Local Authorities
at different stages in the process – no one has the
answer.
In the course of discussions, Members raised a
number of additional points. These included:
- Whether the Council
had the manpower to deliver the services anticipated under
SDS.
- Audit trails and
those processes required to ensure money from individual budgets is
not misspent.
- Support Plans and
concerns that these are reviewed regularly
- For support plans to
be effective they require sufficient financial resources and
regular monitoring.
Resolved –
- That
the information provided be noted.
- That
officers be requested to provide a draft scoping report on
Transforming Social Care to the next meeting covering the following
issues:
I.
Choice
II.
Commissioning
III.
Market Development
IV.
The right support / access to support
V.
Monitoring Services and Safeguarding
- That officers be requested to provide copies of the DVD on Support Choice and
Independence to the Chairman and Cllr Anthony Way.