Individual Budgets
A One day course for Social Workers/Care Managers

This course aims to deliver awareness training on the introduction of Individual Budgets to social workers/care managers working with all adults. These workers will have duties that involve the assessment of eligible adults to apply for and manage their Individual Budgets. Those adults that will be eligible for the scheme will include older people and disabled people which will include people with learning disabilities, people with physical or sensory disabilities and people with mental health needs. The main idea behind Individual Budgets is to put the person who is supported, or given services, in control of deciding what support or services they get. It also provides a potentially good option for those people who do not want to take on the responsibilities of a Direct Payment

The course will identify the processes involved and how this scheme differs in relation to Direct Payments and the Independent Living Fund but will explain how these may be applicable within the whole Individual Budgets system. There will be the opportunity to consolidate learning through practice scenarios.

This course is designed to provide those key staff with the basic knowledge that they would need in order to work within the guidelines of the new personalisation agenda.

Learning objectives:

By the end of this course participants should be able to:

• Identify the key provisions in the new scheme and apply them directly to their professional responsibilities.
• Help to put people at the centre of the decision making process
• Help understand how to promote the flexibility of the scheme in order for people to gain the right support they want and how to organise it from a broker, an advocate, family or friends.
• Understand the different income streams that can help tailor support from different agencies.
• Understand the assessment processes involved and the role of the care manager/social worker

Course content:

• Historical influences to shaping of Individual budgets
• Policy guidance
        - Our health, our care, our say. (DOH 2006)
        - Improving the Life Chances of Disabled people. (Strategy Unit, Jaguar 2005)
        - Opportunity Age. (Department for Work and Pensions, March 2005
        - Independence, Well-being and Choice (DOH March 2005)
• Understand different funding streams
        - Council-provided Social Care services for adults
        - Supported people funding
        - Independent Living Fund
        - Disabled Facilities Grant
        - Integrated Community Equipment Services
        - Access to Work
• Understand whether Individual Budgets affect who comes forward for services and what they might get
• Understand what changes Individual budgets would mean for staff
• Understand how to manage the process of assessment, agreeing eligibility, maintenance, support and review of service provision.
• Case studies to facilitate learning

Training methods

• Tutor presentation
• Group work
• Case studies
• Powerpoint presentation
• Handouts

CP97/4.9