Developing solutions for Personal Care Budgets

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Chichester District Council should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Andrew Greenhalgh

Dear Chichester District Council,

We are continuing to consult with Local Authorities across the UK in readiness for the next development stage of the popular BeMyCareBroker.com site - which delivers bespoke care solutions to service users, businesses and local & health authorities across the UK.

We'd be grateful if the lead of each department listed below could share their views on the changes to Social Care and how they are impacting on your Adult Social Services, Commissioning, Procurement and Finance departments.

Please find our questions below.

Yours faithfully,
Andrew Greenhalgh

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1. What is your role within the Adult Social Services, Procurement, Commissioning or Finance department?

2. How has the introduction of Individual Care Budgets (Personalisation) affected you/your role?

3. What were your initial thoughts about the changes to our Social Care system?

4. Have those opinions been altered or reinforced since that time and if so, how?

5. Describe how you now see your role in supporting the wider care community in your region.

6. What tools or facilities do you feel are crucial to have access to, to achieve this?

7. Should local authorities be less or more involved in assisting Service Users in finding and acquiring the care and support they need, how so and why?

8. Should local authorities be less or more involved in supporting carers, how so and why?

9. What information would you like to have regular access to, to fulfil your role or responsibilities and in what format(s)?

10. How could an online solution (Website) to Personalisation best serve you in your role?

11. How could an online solution to Personalisation best serve your local authority?

12. How could an off-line solution (EG. Telephone help line, drop-in centre etc.) to Personalisation best serve you in your role?

13. How could an off-line solution to Personalisation best serve your local authority?

14. What perceptions do you have about “Care Brokerage” and companies providing this service?

15. Is/has your local authority been involved in a Personalisation pilot scheme, and if so which solution did you/are you piloting?

16. When did/does the pilot begin/finish?

17. Is/was this a free pilot scheme and if not, how much did you pay?

18. Are you using or considering using a third party to implement a solution to self-directed support?
a. Yes (Go to question 19)
b. No (Go to question 22)

19. Which third party solution are you using?

20. What do you like and dislike about this solution?

21. Have you entered into an annual contract with this supplier?

22. What systems and processes have you introduced/adapted to deliver self-directed support?

23. What further changes, if any, are required to complete your transition to self-directed support?

24. If savings were to be made across any number of Social Services teams/departments within your local authority, which teams/departments would take priority?

25. In your opinion, who should pay to provide online support services to service users?
a. The Service User (Independently)
b. The Service User (Out of their approved individual care budget)
c. Local Authorities, and if so which department(s)?
d. Care providers (As commission on product sales / placement fees)
e. Other (please specify)

26. In your opinion, who should pay to provide care and support services to carers?
a. The Service User (Independently)
b. The Service User (Out of their approved individual care budget)
c. Local Authorities, and if so which department(s)?
d. Care providers (As commission on product sales / placement fees)
e. Other (please specify)

27. What, in your opinion, would be the perfect outcome to the Personalisation agenda?

28. Please list your top 3 priorities when considering your ideal solution to Individual Care Budgets
1.
2.
3.

29. What is your level of budget responsibility (Circle all that apply)?
a. I source and/or recommend suitable products services
b. I make purchases within a set budget
c. I set/agree the budget
d. I sign off the budget

30. Could you please tell us what percentage of Service Users in your district are self-funding, broken down by care type (MH, LD, PD, Older People)