Buy the care and support you want with a Personal Budget

Self Directed Support

If you are eligible for support from Adult Services, you can now choose the way your care and support is provided.  You decide what support is important to you and you decide who provides that support.

With Self Directed Support, you will be told how much money the Council will make available for you to spend on the care and support you need.

The money the Council makes available for you to spend on the care and support you need is called a Personal Budget.

You may want to

• Manage your Personal Budget yourself with a Direct Cash Payment or
• Ask Adult Services to manage your Personal Budget for you (this is very similar to how care and support is managed currently) or
• Ask someone else, “a third party,” to manage your Personal Budget for you or
• You can choose a mixture of the above options.

Adult Services will talk through all the available options with you and your family so that arrangements are made which suit you.

How is Self Directed Support different?

Traditionally, the Council provided care and support through a range of block contracts negotiated in advance. With Self Direct Support, you will be told how much money the Council will make available for you to spend on the care and support you need.

What is a Personal Budget?

A Personal Budget is the money allocated by the Council to pay for your care and support. The amount is calculated following an Assessment of your needs. A Support Plan is then drawn up and agreed by you and the Council showing how your money will be spent.

A Personal Budget does not affect any social security or other benefit. It is not classed as income and is not taxable because it can only be used to pay for your care and support.

What is an Assessment?

When you contact us for help, we ask you lots of questions to find out about the things you can do, the things you’re finding difficult to manage and what support you need to be able to do the things what are important to you. This is an Assessment.

What is a Support Plan?

Once the amount of your Personal Budget has been agreed with you, a member of staff from Adult Services will work with you and your family to find out what is important to you and what support suits your way of life. These details will be included in your Support Plan.

A Support Plan is similar to but will replace your Care Plan. Your Support Plan will identify how you would like your Personal Budget to be managed, either by Adult Services or yourself in the form of a Direct Cash Payment.

What is a Direct Cash Payment?

A Direct Cash Payment is money from the Council to enable you to purchase the support you need as identified in your Support Plan. This may be all or some of your Personal Budget. Staff from Adult Services will help you manage your Direct Cash Payment.

What is “support managed by Adult Services”?

This means that your Personal Budget will be held and managed by Adult Services (the Council) to pay for your care and support in line with your wishes.

What is “support managed by a third party”?

This means that your Personal Budget will be held and managed by someone else on your behalf who will act as your representative. Depending on your wishes, this could be a

• Friend, partner, carer or family member
• Care Agency provider
• Voluntary organisation
• Combination of the above

What if I can’t decide what is best for me?

There will always be support available form Adult Services for you and your family to help you decide which option is best for you.

Who can get a Personal Budget?

You can get a Personal Budget if you currently receive support from Adult Services or if you have been newly assessed as needing care and support.

What if I am a Carer?

All Carers play an important part in the care and support of their family member and will always be fully involved. If you are providing care for someone, you have the right to ask for a Carers Assessment of your needs.

What if my circumstances change?

Everyone who receives money for care and support from Adult Services will have a regular review to make sure that the Support Plan is working well. If your circumstances change and you need a review sooner, you can ask Adult Services to arrange one for you.

Will I have to pay anything towards my care and support?

There is no charge for an assessment or for information and advice from Adult Services. Whether you have to pay anything towards the support you receive will depend on how much income and savings you have.

If you want the Council to pay for your support, we will carry out a Financial Assessment.

We will also check that you are receiving all the benefits you may be entitled to.

For full details about how the Financial Assessment is worked out there is some information on our “Paying for services in the community” page.

For an assessment or a review of your care and to find out more about Personal Budgets, Direct Cash Payments and support options, please contact the Adult Assessment and Customer Care Team.

Complaints, suggestions and compliments

Feedback provides us with valuable information to improve our services to you. If you would like to make a complaint, suggestion or compliment please contact your Social Worker or the Manager of that service.

Safeguarding Adults

If you are being abused or suspect that somebody you know is being abused in any way, please do not ignore it. You can report your concerns or worries in confidence by contacting the Safeguarding Adults Team.

You do not have to give your name and any information you give will be treated confidentially. We will always respect the wishes and feelings of the person at risk of abuse.

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Tameside Adult Services Stalybridge Resource Centre Waterloo Road Stalybridge SK15 2AU  View local map
0161 342 2400
0161 342 2460
0161 342 2577