Transforming Social Care
Southampton Conference
Feedback from workshops
1. What has worked well?
Tendering process
Enabler of Choice
Forums
Newsletters for direct payment recipients
Choice of interview location
Support service – peer support and choice champions
Cutting out the number of “contacts” in Local Authority to Service users (Care Manager/Broker/DP/FAB Team)
DP users acting as Champions
Transitions from care management to care brokering
Out sourcing support planning
The continued increase in DP users
Comprehensive DP Support services
SILC (Surrey Independent Living Council) wider than just DP services User led organisation & hubs –
Contract with one organisation (value for money for Council)
2. What are the challenges?
Not always a level playing field between groups
Why a holding account (managed account) – the barriers have not always been explored
Is innovation getting lost (Risk/process)
Paperwork – too much – too little information
Bank accounts
Flexibility
Reaching minority groups
Removing or simplifying terms/jargon
Still not enough people having a DP
Providing information early enough
Managing expectations
Level of demand: often a “bulge” then a “decrease” in demand
Contract not scaled against number of DP service users – more people using the service
Cost effectiveness versus cost – added value from a DPO/ULO
Challenge of voluntary sector doing more – joined up approach
Challenge of reduced budget – reduced support service
Different types of direct payment
Practitioners behind on re-assessment & reviews
Shock when Personal Budgets comes in
No choice – only one organisation – a monopoly
How to protect the quality
How a DP is sold
3. What support is most helpful?
Encouraging organisations to sell themselves to make people want a DP
Linking in with other local authorities – streamline processes
Finding the right tool which is useful
(is it a “Face” template or RAS)
Support to challenge current/historic practice
Market development
Public education
Advertising through all communities
More awareness
Raising expectations
Resource allocation to DP service users
Easier tendering for small DPOs
Time banks for DP Employers
Clearer “up-front” information – HMRC etc