Self-Directed Support
What is Self Directed Support?
Self Directed Support means that you can have more flexibility,
choice and control over your care so that you can live at home
independently and have a better quality of life. You will be
informed of how much money will be allocated to your care to meet
the outcomes agreed during your assessment.
You can choose to have:
Direct Payments - This is money which is given straight to
you and you manage the money yourself. You can buy the
support you need from an agency or you can employ your own staff, a
Personal Assistant (PA) or you can use both agency and PAs.
The money is paid into a separate bank account, and a record of how
you spend it needs to be kept.
Or
Managed Budget - You know how much money has been allocated
to you but the council look after it and provide or arrange
services for you.
Or
Mixed Budget - This is a combination of Direct Payments and
a Managed Budget. Some of the money is paid to you as Direct
Payments and the rest is managed by the council.
You can get as much help as you need to set up and run your
package. A carer, friend or relative may be able to support
you with some things and the Self Directed Support Team will direct
you to an organisation that will be able to help.
To find out more, we have produced a short movie which
you download to the right hand side or will find playing at the
bottom of this page.
What to do Next?
If you already use Community Care Services, you could speak to
the person you usually talk to about your support. If you
don't have Community Care involvement, but would like to, this can
be arranged.
You will need to prepare for an assessment and someone will
discuss this with you. Together you will produce an Outcome
Focussed Support Plan which sets out your needs and how these will
be met.
This is a brief outline of Self Directed Support and if you
would like to learn more please contact the Self Directed Support
Team at the address to the right.
Quotes from service users
The following are some quotes from some of our
Self-Directed Support clients, from a variety of ages and client
groups:
"This is the best thing that has ever happened to
me."
"It's the only way to live and I choose who provides my
care."
"I have now got a life and have made lovely new friends and
am able to go places and things I like to do."
"My sister and I love to socialise and Direct Payments allows us to
be with friends our own age."
"I now spend my day, my way - and my Mum gets a break
too."
"I am in control and have complete freedom with quality
time to pursue what I want to do."
"I've got my life back."
