In the roll out of personal budgets, evidence has shown that people who use Direct Payments tend to get better outcomes than people who use managed budgets. The Government and the sector partnership Think Local Act Personal have also stressed that increasing the take up of direct payments should be a key priority for councils as they continue to transform local adult social care systems.
So what support do people need in order to take up and use direct payments and what is the most cost effective way of providing high quality support?
Recognising the need to support commissioners in answering these questions, the London Joint Improvement Partnership has commissioned a piece of work to develop a framework for understanding best practice in direct payments support.
The work is being conducted by Groundswell in partnership with the National Centre for Independent Living and will report at the end of October. Over the next two months Groundswell will be contacting people from London Councils, and Direct Payment Support organisations in the capital who would like to share their experiences about local support services.
We will be holding an event on 3rd October engaging a selection of councils from across London along with local Direct Payments Support Organistations and people using direct payments to co-design what a best practice model for support looks like.
Places for the event are limited and will be targeted in order to achieve a broad spectrum of experience within the sector. Invitations will be issued shortly.
If you would like to find out more about the project or share your experience of local support planning services please get in contact with us by email at:
