Personalisation, personal budgets and direct payments

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Please explore the sections below to access information about this topic:

What is a personal budget?

Personalisation places people at the heart of the assessment and discussions about how they would like their services delivered, ensuring they have as much choice and control over the shape of their support as possible. It enables the provision of services tailored for each individual rather than providing a one-size-fits-all-package. The introduction of personal budgets is one element of a personalised approach to improving outcomes for eligible children/young people.

If you are eligible for support from the council then a personal budget allows you to spend the money allocated for that support in a way that best suits you, and to stay as independent as possible.

 

What are direct payments?

Direct payments are a part of personalisation, through delivery of funds on a pre-paid card, payments can be provided for regular weekly packages of care or for one-off purposes. When a person chooses to receive a direct payment for a weekly package of care the local authority agrees a certain number of hours’ direct payment they are to receive. Direct Payments can be used for an agency carer, carer employed by the family, or activities.

For comprehensive information, visit the Personal Budgets and Direct Payments on PeopleFirst.

Personal Budgets and Direct Payment Policy

Following consultation with parents and staff, we have agreed a personal budget policy in line with the Children and Families Act 2014 which states that children, young people and their families should be fully involved in decision making and planning for their own future. Personalisation recognises the strengths and abilities of individuals and puts them at the centre of planning and decision making about their own care and support.

Personalisation, and the personal budget policy, places families at the heart of the assessment and discussions about how they would like their services delivered, ensuring they have as much choice and control over the shape of their support as possible. It enables the provision of services tailored for each individual rather than providing a one-size-fits-all-package. The introduction of personal budgets is one element of a personalised approach to improving outcomes for eligible children/young people.

If you are eligible for support from the council then a personal budget allows you to spend the money allocated for that support in a way that best suits you, and to stay as independent as possible.

Download our Personal Budget Policy (2020) by clicking here. 

Downloads

  1. Personal Budget Policy 2020

Page last reviewed: 21/03/2024

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