In 2007 The Government published “Putting People First” – a clear outline for the personalising of services to enable individuals to live independently and have complete choice and control in their lives.

Personalisation puts individuals in control of planning and implementing systems of care and support that are designed and tailored to meet their own unique needs.

Personalisation is now being implemented through • Direct Payments • Personal Health Budgets (initially for people in receipt of Continuing Healthcare) • Personal Budgets

Other options: • Residential care home – staffed at all times (group ethos so less personalised) • Supported Living (smaller in scale) – own or rent your home and have control over the support you get, who you live with and how you live your life. • Shared Lives – a provision by individuals and families in their own home

WHAT IS A PERSONALISED LIFE?

•. choosing who supports you:. agencies and individual support • choosing who supports you: agencies and individual support workers – their nature, compatibility, age etc. • defining and choosing what you do each day • being able to change your mind and act on it – at any point during the day or over the course of your life

Yes – but it involves resources: IS THIS ACHIEVEABLE? Yes – but it involves resources: Effective ADVOCACY and Finance

ABOUT PERSONALISATION? WHO NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT PERSONALISATION? Individuals who need support their families carers support networks

• Commissioners • Social workers or care plan managers • Care and support providers • Inspectors and quality reviewers • Advocacy and information services • Support brokers (those that still exist) • People who work with individuals in their own homes and in the local and wider community

WHAT DOES PERSONALISATION MEAN FOR PROVIDERS? CHALLENGING

• Cuts alongside pressure to personalise and innovate • Changing expectations of people needing support • Competition through choice of activities and support 

JOSHUA   JACK

PLANNING is important and affirmative an opportunity to explore and shape a vision, encourage aspiration – but it doesn’t tell you HOW TO DO IT!

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

 The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) came into force in 2000. Article 14 – the right to not be discriminated against in the enjoyment of your other rights has a particular relevance to those with learning disabilities. Along with certain legislation such as the Disability Discrimination Act, this right has the potential to ensure that people with learning disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disability, in all aspects of life, including healthcare, job opportunities, the right to independent living, the right to services and support in the community.

This month a UN Enquiry concluded that Austerity policies introduced into welfare and social care by the UK government amount to “systematic violations” of the rights of people with disabilities,   It says a range of measures aimed at reducing public spending since 2010, including controversial changes such as the bedroom tax, and cuts to disability benefits and social care budgets have disproportionately and adversely affected disabled people.

“People with learning disabilities and/or autism and their families have an array of rights in law or Government policy … [but] the lived experience of people with learning disabilities and/or autism and their families is too often very different. Too often they feel powerless, their rights unclear, misunderstood or ignored.” [NHS England commissioned report] Winterbourne View – Time for Change: transforming the commissioning of services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism (2014)  

NHS England has initiated Transforming Care to improve services for people with learning disabilities and/or autism, who display behaviours that challenge, including those with a mental health condition. This will drive system-wide change and enable more people to live in the community, with the right support, and close to home.   East Sussex Better Together – is aiming for a fully integrated health and social care economy in East Sussex that makes sure people receive proactive, joined up care, supporting them to live as independently as possible. The Care Act 2014 – mandatory from April 2015 Its “wellbeing principle” spells out a local authority’s duty to ensure people’s wellbeing is at the centre of all it does.

TAKE SMALL STEPS

ENLIST ALL THE SUPPORT YOU CAN: • friends • family members • people who know you – friends, support workers • other communities of support such as Project Art Works

STAY FOCUSSED ON THE GOAL – A GOOD QUALITY OF LIFE THAT IS PERSONALISED AND INVOLVES CHOICE

WHAT PERSONALISATION MEANS TO ME