1. Personal Budgets “Lessons Learned”
Kevin Salter
Assistant Director (Care)
England

2. Valuing People
People with learning disabilities are amongst the most vulnerable and socially excluded in our society. Very few have jobs, live in their own homes or have choice over who cares for them. This needs to change: people with learning disabilities must no longer be marginalised or excluded.
1996 act came about following a long campaign by people with disabilities, prior to this all services delivered on the basis of assessment and what was available.
Direct payments allowed for purchasing existing services or for employing a ‘personal asisstant’ but seen by some as means tested/needs tested and not holistic.

3. Valuing People Objective 3
“To enable people with a learning disability to have as much choice and control as possible over their lives through advocacy and a person centred approach to planning the services that they need.”
Sub objective 3.3
“Making direct payments available to all those people with a learning disability who request them and who meet the requirements of the scheme”

4. Getting your Personal Budget
Assessment: comprising initial assessment, full assessment and carers assessment
Financial & benefits assessment (FACS)
Indicative Personal Budget
Support Planning
Panel for agreement of support plan and personal budget
Brokerage
Re assessment

5. Care Funding calculator
Used by 125 Councils across England for residential and supported living arrangements
Challenges in getting the level right so it is sufficient to meet needs
Initially did not factor for behaviours that challenge
Other authorities use a similar RAS
Varying degrees of autonomy/flexibility between different models of RAS/interpretation by panel/Commissioners
Presented savings by 2012 of £45 m across 51 councils

6. Implications of Personalisation for providers
Demand-will this increase or change?
Marketing & the shape of the social care market
Finance & Administration
Workforce
Partnership working

7. How has it gone ..so far? ADASS research 2014-
78% of people have a personal budget but only 24% took this as a direct payment
Wide regional variation and amongst differing service user groups- mental health only 7% of eligible population
Whilst 70% of budgets allocated to PB’s only 35% spent on direct payments- not able to tell in terms of service user groups
Austerity-27 % decrease in real terms for adult social care budgets?

8. Positive Outcomes Evaluations Tool Survey 2014
All groups receiving a Direct payment reported a range of positive outcomes
People with a learning disability less likely to report feeling more independent
Less likely to report positive outcomes regarding paid work
Less likely to report positive outcomes re self esteem.
More likely to spend on care and support than other factors

9. Positive Outcomes Evaluation Tool Survey 2014 Continued
Direct link to good process leading to good outcomes
Being heard improved successful attainment of outcomes
Many people with learning disability report that Councils make life difficult for them in getting a personal budget(direct payment)

10. In closing
Personal budgets must be seen as more than just the money.. Its about control& Choice-person centred approaches
Third sector organisations have a clear role in responding to need and shaping provision.
Providers must be flexible/responsive/creative
Cost aware
Develop good marketing strategies
Able to respond-quickly
Work in real partnership with people who need our services and their families
Sources: TSRC ADASS 2014