Micro enterprise Personalisation, people and possibilities in Nottinghamshire Angela Catley, Rebecca Stanley and David Bingham

Introductions Your name Your interest in this workshop

What is Community Catalysts?  A social enterprise and Community Interest Company established in 2010  Know that people have assets, skills, talents and imagination (and that these are often hidden)  Works to harness these talents with people and communities to provide high quality small scale local care and support services  Aims to make sure that people wherever they live have a real choice of great services and supports

Control  Focus on personal budgets and Direct Payments for people who are FACs eligible for state funded care and support  Up front allocation of money for people to use to meet their needs  People can take money as a Direct Payment or elect to have it managed on their behalf  Self funders and people who are FACs eligible are in the same boat Simple?

The vision Real choice and control for people who need care and support to enable them to live real lives

The reality?

Control doesn’t automatically result in choice If:  There are no services to choose from  There is nothing new to choose from (only what was always available)  Control and choice is made so complex, confusing, unattractive or scary that people would rather ‘get what they’re given’  If there is no information about the choices available  If information isn’t accessible or relevant

Micro providers  Are local people providing support and services to other local people  Work on a very small scale (5 or fewer workers – paid or unpaid)  Are independent of any larger organisation  Can be run by anyone including people who use services, their families, community members, ex care workers

What do micro providers offer people who need support and services?  Personal and tailored  Co-produced  Flexible and responsive to change  Choice of services that help people to live their lives and meet health and support needs  Help people to link to their community and build social capital  Help people to make their money go further  Local people helping other local people.....locally

Community Catalysts and micro providers  We have developed a way to  Find  Engage  Support  Connect  Local people already running something in their area or those with a great new idea  We have worked with approx 26 councils and communities across the UK to help them support micro providers in their area

 Nottinghamshire County Council have been working in partnership with Community Catalysts  Creating the right conditions for micro enterprise to flourish  Since July 2010 there have been 188 enquiries made by new, developing and/or established micro providers  Actively working with 50+ micro providers Nottinghamshire micro enterprise project

Support given to providers includes  Listening to ideas and giving professional feedback  Advice and practical information on regulation, training and insurances  Signposting to other organisations that can also help  Support to understand legal requirements and any regulations that might apply  Support to understand and operate within a personalised marketplace

 47 services are delivering a care or support service  43 of these are new and services include:  Flexible personal support in the home and community  Domestic support  Volunteering & employment support  Direct Payment support  Holidays and short breaks  But this list hides a lot. All the services are tiny, most are highly valued and well used, some are quirky and imaginative and offer things that weren’t previously available  Over 600 people receive services and support from micro providers in Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire micro enterprise project

Space Inclusive An Introduction Space Inclusive is an East Midlands based Social Enterprise set up in 2010 to provide person centred services for young adults with learning disabilities. Our aim is to provide a transitions service that develops skills to enable people to become more independent and pro active community members. This can include skills for employment, for supported/independent living or social interaction.

Space Inclusive An Introduction Our project was informed by our experiences of working in Special Schools. Schools typically provide ‘wraparound care’ in addition to educational provision. Upon leaving school the nature of available provision changes and this can present barriers to young people with LDD, whether logistical, social, academic or financial. We feel very strongly that there is a place for a provision that looks at supporting people to develop skills and strategies to help them overcome or manage these difficulties, and that through partnership working we can continue to provide opportunities for people that are appropriate and aspirational.

Personalisation Our starting point is always with the individual; Where do they want to be? What do they like? What skills do they have? What are realistic outcomes for them? This is central to the ethos of personalisation. The user or their representative should be enabled to exercise choice and control over the support they receive. And the council’s commissioning arrangements and contracts should aim to incentivise providers to achieve this.

Successful partnerships We currently work with a number of partners who help us to ensure the best possible outcomes and that we are able to offer opportunities of a high standard. Current employment partners include University Hospitals, Nottingham; East Midlands Airport and Nottingham City Council Sport and Leisure. In addition we work in partnership with other organisations including micro providers and providers of specialist activities.

Where we fit… People choose to come to our provision because they feel that we can support them to move forwards. We have referrals from any number of places; CLDT’s, NHS teams, colleges, Connexions/Futures, other micro providers and self-referrals. Each individual has their own story. They may have found previous provision difficult to engage with, have been out of provision for some time or may be looking to supplement their existing provision such as a college course.

Case study Adam Adam has found it difficult to engage in any projects since he left school. Now 21, he is able to utilise his passion for bicycles with the support of Space Inclusive. We have given Adam a place to work on his bicycles, the support and encouragement he needs to stay focused on a task in the workshop and provided a place for him to have the opportunity to interact with his peers. Working with us, Adam now runs a business enterprise using the Internet to sell both completed bikes and bike parts that he has reconditioned.

“Space Inclusive fills a need not otherwise catered for within the age group. They are doing a wonderful job and we are delighted they have succeeded in engaging our son!” Trish and Keith Jacobs

Case study James James is very self motivated and is actively seeking paid employment. He works with Space Inclusive two days each week, which adds structure and motivation to his schedule, broadens his social experiences and supports him with home skills related opportunities. He has recently begun to write on a freelance basis for The Left Lion magazine and we have supported him into part time employment at East Midlands Airport.

“I enjoy coming as I am treated as an adult and individual, it has a down to earth approach to learning and is fun too” Brendon 21

Case study Cameron Cameron attends Space Inclusive for three days each week. During this time, we work with him to maximise his social opportunities. This is something that Cameron can find challenging, as his ASD can limit social interaction severely at times. Through supporting and encouraging him in different situations we have helped Cameron discover new interests and skills. We have also found that his ability to communicate and enjoy being around others continues to develop, enabling access to future opportunities.

Barriers faced by micro (and other developing) providers Tendering and procurement that defines the service model and discourages imaginative approaches Focus on traditional ‘registered’ or ‘approved’ service models Disproportionate or inappropriate regulation and rules Finding and contacting potential customers Knowing what people want to buy Where to get practical advice, services and information Affordable, appropriate insurance Unclear and mixed messages about what is needed For established providers - serving existing users in established ways whilst trying to plan for the future

The result  Many good things close  Providers who offer services in impersonal ways gain contracts (and status)  It is unattractive or impossible for new, innovative and quirky providers to enter the market  Local authorities are seeking diverse, flexible, personal and responsive services but operate systems that favour large, traditional providers

Issues to resolve  PBs only really offered as Direct Payments or managed funds – other options not worked out at scale  Strong links to ‘approved’ provider systems – these can sometimes ‘reward’ the wrong kind of practice  DP systems geared towards people employing own staff  Market shaping activity produces imaginative and quirky service options (but the system inadvertently kills them!)  Quality issue not tackled strategically  Brokerage and advice not available or only able to ‘see’ traditional service options. Limited investment in new roles/skills  Limited work on aggregation and collaboration – instead a focus on each individual

Linking it all together  Challenging times  Thinking in terms of ‘lives’ rather than services helps  Lots of opportunities and existing assets  Real potential for local people to provide local services for other local people  Need imaginative ways to assure quality that really work for the new market  Must acknowledge and tackle barriers if real transformation is to happen

Open discussion and questions

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