Our personalisation journey ISF - Making the Money work December 2012

Simon  Blyghton  Director  of  Performance  

Kicking things off

•  We wanted to ensure personalised support can be with all people we support

•  Our personalisation journey wanted to look again at support for people in more traditional settings with traditional funding streams

•  We wanted to unravel block contracts and move towards Individual Service Funds

•  In doing so - shifting more personal control to people we support who share their support and funding

What our experience tells us

•  Traditional ways of arriving at service costing based on equal share for support inhibits flexibility and control for people – nothing new there!

•  Finding new ways to unpick the money in existing arrangements can be difficult ,complicated despite simple applications but worthwhile.

•  Early commitment, shared understanding and support from commissioners is vital in driving things forward.

Early considerations

•  There is no magic formula – Often existing ‘older’ services have historical anomalies in how funding works. You need to ensure everyone understands all of it.

•  Some income/funding streams have clear boundaries to them and less flexibility for consideration.

•  Using the principle of ‘Just Enough Support’ really helps focus new opportunity without compromising assessed need.

Simple and Transparent

•  Individual allocation –  Iden%fy  each  person’s  share  of  the  funding  based  on  their  individual  needs  

•  Core support and shared costs –  Iden%fy  what  support  and  costs  are  necessary  as  a  result  of  the  service  being  shared  

•  In my control – Maximise  control  of  the  remaining  money  once  the  person  has  paid  for  the  core  and  shared  costs  

Working things through

•  Build your own view of the methodology that works •  There is merit in different costing models but each

has its strengths and weaknesses •  Developing own methodology has merit if its

consistent with Local Authority expectations •  Funding is important but focus on people not

money!

Summary 4+1

Tried •  Using principles of ISF as expectation for our

journey •  Ensuring ‘just enough support’ works for people •  Challenging traditional services to radically rethink

their approach to support arrangements •  Working with Local authorities to drive forward

different ways of working •  Using how the money works as a means to really

put people in control of their lives

Summary 4+1

Learnt •  It can be done! •  It can be challenging •  Not all systems have the answers – there needs to

be mix and match •  It can have positive additional benefits •  It can be a power shift for people we support •  Don’t let the money get in the way of the real

issues •  A good guidance tool kit helps

Summary 4+1

Pleased about •  The creativity of staff to think differently •  How it can make a difference •  Some partnership working with commissioners •  The shift to personalised support it provides Concerned about •  The approach from some Local Authorities •  The attitudes of some staff •  Time and negotiation can take longer than

expected

What next

•  Our personalisation journey builds momentum •  We continue to learn from our experience •  We stick to our principles of just enough support

and people not paying for support they don’t need •  We continue the dialogue with Commissioners as to

our approaches •  We look to develop the toolkit further