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7. NOW YOU ARE DIRECTING YOUR OWN SUPPORT
This chapter covers record keeping and how to make back-up arrangements in case of any unexpected events.
Will I need to keep records?
Yes. The money you get in your individual budget is for services to meet your assessed needs. It is public money and so it is not yours to spend as you wish. Your local authority will require you to account for the money you receive. You will be told what records you need to keep and what information you will be expected to provide. You will probably find it easier to keep records as you go along, rather than leaving completion of any forms until they have to be returned.
For example, you may be asked to keep timesheets signed by your personal assistants ( PAs) recording the hours they have worked, or receipts for services purchased from agencies.
Will the local authority check on the service being provided?
By agreeing to be on self-directed support you are taking on responsibility for buying services to meet your assessed needs. However your local authority will have to satisfy itself that your needs are being met in the same way as if you received services. Your local authority should tell you how they would go about this. This may involve someone visiting you in your home to review the arrangements you make using self-directed support.
What if I don't need to spend all the money?
If you don't need services for a short period, for example if you are in hospital, or if you need less than usual because your condition improves, tell your local authority as soon as possible, as they may need to adjust your individual budget.
Do not spend your budget on something that has not been agreed. Your local authority has the power to require you to repay any money that you do not spend on meeting your assessed needs.
What will happen in emergencies?
Whatever arrangements you make, there will be times when they break down. For example, your PA may be ill. You will need to make back-up arrangements to provide cover for sickness etc. You might arrange this with an agency or with off-duty or former employees. You will need to discuss with your local authority what arrangements they expect you to make to prepare for unexpected events like this. Your local authority may be prepared to give you extra money to enable you to buy services in an emergency.
If something happens which your arrangements cannot cover, you should not be left without the services you need. The local authority has a responsibility to step in if it is not satisfied that your needs are being met by your own arrangements using self-directed support. Contact your local authority as soon as you realise you will need help.
Don't worry about contacting your local authority for help. Almost everyone needs help at one time or another. It is impossible to plan for every situation that may arise. Having to contact your local authority does not mean that you will be taken off self-directed support. However your local authority may wish to discuss with you the arrangements you have put in place for emergencies.
What if my needs change?
Contact your local authority as soon as possible and ask for your needs to be reassessed.
Could I be asked to repay money?
Yes, your local authority could ask you to repay some or all of the money if you:
- do not spend the money on the services as agreed, or
- spend it in a way, which does not meet any conditions the local authority has set.
What do I do if I no longer want to use self-directed support?
Contact your local authority to ask them to stop making payments if you no longer want to get them. Your local authority will arrange services instead. If you refuse or withdraw your consent to using self-directed support, this alone will not stop you from getting it in the future.
Who can I complain to if I am not happy with the service?
If you are not happy with any action, decision or apparent failing of the local council, you can use the local council complaints procedure. The council will be able to explain to you how to make a complaint. You may find that an independent mediator can help solve the difficulty. If this is not successful then you can go to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (see Annex A).
If you are not happy with the services being provided by a provider or an individual, you should complain to the provider or take it up with the person concerned. Alternatively, a complaint can be made to the Care Commission about any registered service. Local support services and SPAEN can provide information and advice about how to conduct any complaints.
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