Self Directed Support

Self Directed Support gives the social care user much more freedom to live their lives as they wish.  This contrasts with the Old System where social care users had limited freedoms and often had to fit in to existing, sometimes inappropriate services, rather than live their lives as they wish.

The Community Care Assessment is replaced by a much reduced self assessment, which is then entered into a Resource Assessment Tool (RAS), which will determine the indicative individual budget.  This figure is tested by the user to see if it will pay for support and then a formal budget and the outcomes are agreed.  The social care user can then arrange their own support from an agency or employ their own carers if they wish.

For most support providers their customer will change from the local authority to the individual social care user.  This should bring about welcome change and a new level of customer focus as they will be working in a more competitive environment.

Those people whose care package is very high cost are likely to be dealt with differently.

This description is simplified.  For more information go to the Information Centre section.