What is In Control?

 

Up until recently, most funding for learning-disabled (and other) people has been as part of a block. For example, Adult Services say to a day centre that they will pay for 50 places.

Everyone’s funding is lumped together and people have less choice over their support and what they do. People have no control over their own funding.

Choices have often been limited and care managers or providers (not the person) have had all the control.

 Person-centred approaches mean that people using services have more control. Support should be based on individual needs and wants. People are not lumped together. This is happening across the Country - attitudes are slowly changing!

An Individual Budget means that the person has control over her/his own funding and can decide what type of support to spend that money on.

This means that people can choose who they want to support them and how.

There are different types of individual budget: 

Direct Payments:

 

Adult Services assess you to see if you have a need for community care services (things that Adult Services pay for).

Then Adult Services arrange to make a cash payment directly to you so you can pay for your own support.

You can have support to use a Direct Payment.

This can only be used for things that Adult Services would usually pay for like:

• Day services
• Learning services
• Individual support
• Personal care
• Respite
• Independent living
• Support for work etc.

 

Indirect Payments:

These are similar to a Direct Payment but the cash does not come directly to you. Your care manager still has the money but you tell her/him exactly what you want your funding to be spent on and what support you want.

In Control (Self-Directed Support):

 

This is a national programme.
Some Council areas have been piloting this project. This means trying it out. Kent is now part of the project too.

1. In Control starts with your person-centred plan.
   
   
2. You decide what you want to do and how you want to be supported.
   
   
3. Then your Adult Services Department tell you how much your support costs.

Then you have the funding to pay for your own support.

There are different bands or levels of support. Kent is working out its bands at the moment.

In Control also looks at the support people get from your family and friends. This approach is about finding different ways of making sure you are part of your community and do not have to rely on specialist services.

The Skillnet Group has registered as a Provider with In Control.