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2. THE BASICS
What is self-directed support?
1. Self-directed support is when you arrange some or all of your (or your child's) support instead of receiving services arranged by your local authority social work or housing department. It is for people who would like more flexibility, choice and control over their care so that they can live at home more independently.
2. If you choose to organise your own community care support package, you are in charge of the arrangements. This should allow you to organise your life the way you wish. You will get a sum of money to spend on the support you need instead of receiving council services. If you want, you can choose to organise some of your own support and also receive some council services.
3. Most people who use social work services can get self-directed support, sometimes called direct payments. The term self-directed support is used because it emphasises that you are in control.
4. You might need support :
- with personal things like having a bath, washing or getting dressed
- to live in your own house, like help with managing your money, cooking or cleaning the house
- to get out and about, so you can see friends, join in activities with other people, or go on a short break (respite)
- to go to work or college.
5. You can buy the support you need from an agency that sells you care services. Or you can employ your own staff, sometimes called a support worker or a personal assistant ( PA), instead of using services. The council will let you know what you can and can't spend the money on. You need to tell them your plans for buying support. Help is available to work out the practical arrangements so that they suit you. Your care manager and local support service can sort out some of the more difficult things with you.
6. You must have a bank account for the money you receive. If you don't have one, you can ask for help to set one up. You will also need to write down how you spend the money. Lots of people get a book-keeper to help with this.
What to do next
7. If you already use social work services, you could speak to the person you usually talk to about your support. If you don't have a social worker or care manger, but want to speak to one, you could phone or write to the social work department. Ask your council how to get in touch with local support services to help you understand self-directed support.
8. You will need to prepare for an assessment. Your social worker or care manager will discuss with you what support you need. Together you will produce a personal care plan which sets out your needs and how these will be met.
9. Before your assessment it is a good idea to keep a diary for a week or two to see what help and support you need each day. If you need support on specific occasions throughout the year make sure it's included. Directing your own support can help you to achieve changes in your life. Local support services can help you decide what you want to do. Some councils use self-assessment for some types of support, which is where you fill in a form that is used to work out your needs.
10. If social work services agree you need support, they must give you the choice of self-directed support instead of council services. Remember you can have a mix of both; it's up to you.
11. The money you are given is sometimes called an individual budget or direct payment. This goes into a separate bank account to make things easier for you. The money may come from your local authority to meet your personal needs, housing support, children's services or other social care needs. Some of your benefits money may also be added to the individual budget, and even some home-based health services money. This way you can use one budget to arrange all of the support you need. You should be able to do more with your package and achieve more flexibility.
Setting up self-directed support
12. You need to show the council that the support you want to buy will meet the needs that you have agreed in your personal care plan.
13. It is up to you to set up the support you need. This could mean arranging services or employing people. Local support services can help you with the practical things you need to do. They could help you with paperwork, or tell you about your legal responsibilities if you decide to employ staff. You will need to keep a record of how you are spending the money.
14. Don't worry if you have self-directed support and want to change your mind. Let your council know. Ask them to sort out services instead.
Employing staff
15. Employing a PA can give you a more flexible and tailor-made package of support which suits you. This is because you choose who comes into your home to support you and exactly what they do. You can work with your care manager and local support service to sort out some of the more difficult things. For example, you can get help with interviewing and payroll.
16. Being a boss means being in charge of people. It is important that you treat people fairly and carry out your legal responsibilities as an employer.
17. Taking up references and doing the necessary police checks will help make sure that the person you employ is safe and right for you.
Buying services
18. If you don't want to employ staff, you can buy services from a service provider to meet your support needs. Or you can do both; you can employ staff and buy services, for example to provide back-up cover. A service provider is an agency or business that sells you care services, like care workers. Your local authority will be able to provide names of regulated service providers in your area which provide the services you need. If you have a contract with a service provider, they will be answerable to you, not the local authority.
19. Help is available to work out the practical arrangements so that they suit you. You can work with your care manager and local support service who can help sort out some of the more difficult things with you. For example, your local support service can help you work out the details of the contract that you need to set up.
20. If a service provider is not able to meet your needs, you may be able to find another that will. Always contact more than one provider before deciding. Remember that you are the customer.
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