In Control - The Right To Flexible Funding
In Control is a methodology for self-directed support that has been implemented by over 90 local authorities in England and Scotland over the last four years. In Control aims to change the way people view and use social care provision. It puts the person who needs the support at the centre of the decisions and actively encourages involvement in key decisions by the individual and they can have assistance with making decisions and have someone to represent them. It is person centred, self-directed support about being in charge even if an individual needs help to reach decisions. In Control was originally designed with and for people with learning difficulties and disabilities and there has been significant work undertaken with older people by councils to adapt the process.
There are seven ethical principles that underpin the concept of self-directed support using In Control. One of the key principles is about a person having the right to use the money to fund their care needs flexibly and creatively, and the right to an individual budget for someone who needs ongoing paid help as part of their life. The individual is entitled to choose how t
o spend the funds with the freedom to decide who provides their care.
In Control council members regularly publish updated information about the number of clients that are using Personal Budgets and the amount of funding allocated by each local authority. To date over 2000 people have adopted this approach to control their care provision with Oldham Council taking the lead in supporting people to use In Control and direct payments. Indeed Oldham Council is one of the local authorities piloting the Individual Budget that is being heralded as the way forward for social care.
In Control, Individual Budgets, direct payments, supporting people funding, NHS continuing care – there are many funding streams available. The emphasis is on the way providers offer flexibility and work together with the clients to ensure they are given the right tools and information they need to take control. There is a call for providers to review their strategies and to re-direct energy to those issues that can truly make a positive difference in transforming peoples’ lives.
Any service that is creative and effective should be championed and the real challenge is changing the mindset of those involved in providing social care to embrace new concepts and solutions.
There are seven ethical principles that underpin the concept of self-directed support using In Control. One of the key principles is about a person having the right to use the money to fund their care needs flexibly and creatively, and the right to an individual budget for someone who needs ongoing paid help as part of their life. The individual is entitled to choose how t
In Control council members regularly publish updated information about the number of clients that are using Personal Budgets and the amount of funding allocated by each local authority. To date over 2000 people have adopted this approach to control their care provision with Oldham Council taking the lead in supporting people to use In Control and direct payments. Indeed Oldham Council is one of the local authorities piloting the Individual Budget that is being heralded as the way forward for social care.
In Control, Individual Budgets, direct payments, supporting people funding, NHS continuing care – there are many funding streams available. The emphasis is on the way providers offer flexibility and work together with the clients to ensure they are given the right tools and information they need to take control. There is a call for providers to review their strategies and to re-direct energy to those issues that can truly make a positive difference in transforming peoples’ lives.
Any service that is creative and effective should be championed and the real challenge is changing the mindset of those involved in providing social care to embrace new concepts and solutions.