INDIVIDUAL BUDGETS

The way people receive their care and support is changing; there is a move to enable the person receiving the support to give them more choice and freedom than ever before.

Individual Budgets are designed to help people take more control of their own social care budgets, manage their own support, and choose the services that best suit them using the money from the different types of funding available more flexibly.

The budgets bring together support to enable people to stay in their own homes and remain independent, or increase the amount of independence and choice they have.

The initial In Control pilot took place with 8 local authorities - now over 80 offer the option of an Individual Budget.

With greater flexibility and personal planning, comes greater responsibility, which can be daunting. Many people work with a care manager (usually attached to social services) or a Broker.

Carewatch is currently piloting work with the National Brokerage Network to give people in receipt of an Individual Budget another choice for people receiving In Control money. By linking with one of our locally owned Carewatch offices, we can provide support to people within the principles of:

  • Self determination - when someone speaks for themselves and gets the support they need to represent them
  • Direction - having a purpose and plan for their life
  • Support - having help which really is helpful, flexible and individual
  • Home - a place that belongs to you and which you can call your home
  • Money - maximising income and controlling your money
  • Community Life

If you're interested in choosing Carewatch to help with your Individual Budget, please contact Carewatch Central Support.

You can read more about Individual Budgets by downloading our Guide To Individual Budgets.

You can read more about Brokerage, and how Carewatch work with the National Brokerage Network by visiting www.nationalbrokeragenetwork.org.uk.

The Department of Health's In Control website has further information on Individual Budgets.

Alternatively, your local social services may have their own Individual Budgets website.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SERVICES IN YOUR LOCAL AREA

To learn more please use our local office finder service in order to locate the Carewatch office nearest to you.