Over 65s to be given choice and control over their social care
A surprisingly large number of adults need some form of help in their day-to-day life. More than 1.5 million people in England use social care services. In Cambridgeshire there are over 16,000 adults who receive social care. This could be due to learning or physical disabilities, poor mental health, or other age-related conditions. Until recently, accessing social care has typically meant receiving one of a small number of pre-commissioned services. Now that is changing.
Self-Directed Support is a new way of providing social care to adults living in Cambridgeshire and eligible for support. It involves identifying a Personal Budget, an upfront allocation of funding. This is designed to help people take control over their lives, identify their own needs and the things they want to do and, if they wish, to manage their own support -with help if they need it.
In Cambridgeshire, Self-Directed Support is being introduced slowly over a twoyear period. It began with a launch and introduction for adults with a learning disability in April 2009, followed by a roll-out to individuals with a physical disability at the end of June.
For adults over 65, because of the numbers involved, a phased introduction of Self-Directed Support to older people and older people with mental health need is being implemented. Over 65s who are eligible for support and living in East Cambridgeshire will begin the move over to Self-Directed Support from November 2009.
People like Amy, who is 91 and has used her Personal Budget to keep her independence despite a series of falls; or Mary, 72, who has employed a live in carer so she can continue to live at home; and Beatrice, 94, who enjoys sewing and gardening and has employed someone to help her to continue do both.1 Self-Directed Support will be introduced for adults under 65 with mental health need from early 2010.
Eligibility to receive support is determined using the Fair Access to Care Services criteria that, in Cambridgeshire, is set at 'substantial'or 'critical'need. Those eligible for support for the first time will go through the system as it changes, whilst those already receiving services will be able to discuss the new approach at their next review. There will be various ways to take a Personal Budget for those who do not want to receive the money directly as a Direct Payment. In some cases individuals may also be expected to make a contribution towards the cost of their social care. Claire Bruin is Director of Adult Support Services at Cambridgeshire County Council, she says: "Self-Directed Support enables individuals to identify their own needs. It allows them to say what they want to do and what they want to achieve. The challenge for us (County Council and NHS Partners) is to support innovation in the ways that people meet their needs. A Personal Budget will enable them to do this." There is a seven-step process for setting up Self-Directed Support, and help and advice is available to support individuals throughout the process. The seven steps are:
- finding out if you are eligible for support and how much your budget is
- producing a plan showing how you will spend your budget to meet your social care needs
- agreeing your plan with the Council
- deciding how to manage your budget -you can manage it yourself with a Direct Payment or ask the Council to manage it for you
- organising your support to meet the goals specified in your support plan
- getting on and living your life
- reviewing how it is going with your care manager and if needed making changes -this will happen after 12 weeks and then according to individual need.
If you think you are eligible for social care support you should call Cambridgeshire Direct on 0345 045 5202 and ask for an assessment. More information:
Self-Directed Support - County Council website: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/ social/selfdirectedsupport/ or email to: in.controltotal@cambridgeshire.gov.uk Fair Access to Care Services -Department of Health website: www.dh.gov.uk