Personal Budgets
Main Details
Self Directed Support is a new way of providing social care. It offers you more choice, flexibility and control over the support you need in order for you to live the life you choose. It involves identifying and allocating a Personal Budget and providing help, if you need it, to plan how to use this.
How it works
Under Self Directed Support most people assessed as needing social care services will be allocated a Personal Budget. A Personal Budget is an amount of money that we agree will meet your social care support needs. Following an assessment of your needs, we will give you an indication of how much money may be available to allow you to begin to plan your support.
You may choose to manage your support entirely by yourself, or ask others, such as your carer, family or friends to help you. You may also choose to have your support managed by us or by a provider agency on your behalf. You will have a support plan that details how you want your support provided. The LCC guide to Support Planning in Lancashire leaflet will help you think about how to develop your plan.
Your support plan will be reviewed annually or at more regular intervals if necessary to make sure it is meeting your needs.
Eligibility
If you are aged 18 or over and are eligible for social care support you may have this support provided through a Personal Budget. (Adult Mental Health Social Care Services provides support to people over the age of 16). There are some exceptions to this, such as if you need residential care, emergency support or are subject to continuing health care or some statutory mental health orders. Personal Budgets for carers may be offered in the future.
What you need to do
If you already receive support for your social care needs, at review, your social care worker will give you support in transferring your services to Self Directed Support.
If you are enquiring about social care support for the first time you should contact the council and ask for an assessment to check your eligibility for services. You can do this at any time.
Whether you are already receiving support for your social care needs or are eligible for help for the first time, help and advice is available to support you through each step.
To ask for an assessment or for more information or to talk to social service about your eligibility for Self Directed Support please contact Social Services on 0845 053 0009. To chat to a member of our volunteer Team, please ring 01772 250300 and ask for Peer support.
