The Government thinks that people should have greater choice over the services and support they need.
They also want to make sure that people have much more control over how that support is managed.
Gateshead Council is trying out Individual Budgets to help give you more choice and control about the way you live your life.
Gateshead Council is one of 13 pilots trying out Individual Budgets and if they are successful, the government aim to introduce them right across the country.
What is an Individual Budget?
Individual Budgets are a new way to organise the support you need. They bring together all the money you are entitled to and let you control how to spend it on the support you need.
An Individual Budget in Gateshead could include:
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Social Care money;
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Independent Living Fund;
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Disabled Facilities Grant;
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Supporting People money;
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Your own money.
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How do Individual Budgets work?
Supported Assessments
First we need to check if you are entitled to an Individual Budget. A Care Manager will help you find this out. Then you will have the opportunity to tell us about yourself in a supported assessment.
How much?
You will decide what you want to achieve - these are called outcomes. Then we will tell you how much money you have for the year using the new system called a Resource Allocation System.
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Support Plan
You will the need to write a plan to show how you would spend your Individual Budget - lots of people can help with this. A Care Manager needs to agree that your plan says how your outcomes will be met and that you will be safe.
Managing money
There are lots of different ways to manage your money and we will help you with this. You can manage the money yourself, or the money can be managed for you.
Arranging support
You get support in a way that makes sense to you - it might be a person to help you or a piece of equipment. We can help you think what would be best for you and
help you arrange it. You will need to keep records of how you have spent the money but we can help with this as well.
Review
We will keep in touch with you to make sure everything is ok and that you have enough money to pay for the support you need.
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Why are Individual Budgets different?
The big difference with Individual Budgets is that you know how much money you will be entitled to at the beginning. This means you can choose the support that you want, instead of being offered what's already there.
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What else?
There will be lots of people who can help you get and to manage your individual budget, such as social workers, advocates, friends and families, and people who can help with support plans. You will need a financial assessment to see if you have to pay for this service.
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Who can try Individual Budgets?
Individual Budgets are available to anyone who is eligible for a service from the council's Community Based Services department.
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To find out more
Telephone: 0191 433 2404
E- mail: individualbudgets@gateshead.gov.uk|
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