Growing and developing peoples' choices
We are working in partnership with other like-minded people and organisations to look for and encourage new people and providers to enter the 'social and health market-place'
We want to create opportunities for people to use their imagination to think of different and new ways to find the support they need to do the things that are important to them
At the same time we want to create opportunities for organisations and groups of people to think creatively about new ways of working and supporting people
We want to connect people who have money to spend on their support, services and products with new and existing providers interested in discovering how they might do things differently
What have we done to help to make this happen?
self direct has worked with a large number of providers, local groups and individuals across the UK to help them to think about new ways of working and new ways of marketing what they do to people who want to use their personal budgets more creatively. And we have worked with individuals to help them access what they need to build up their resilience
self direct has also worked with many Local Authorities and Health Authorities across the UK to help them take forward the citizenship / personalisation agenda, helping professionals to develop the skills they need to practice outcome focused assessment, outcome focused support planning and reviews
We have worked for the following authorities to take forward the citizenship / personalisation agenda:
Bradford Metropolitan District Council working with their internal providers of services
Bridgend County Borough Council working with their social and health care practitioners
Cardiff Council working with their social and health care practitioners
Darlinton Borough Council working with providers of services
Derby City PCT working with providers of services
East Sussex County Council working with local community groups
Flintshire County Council working with the team responsible for implementing the citizen directed support agenda
North Lincolnshire Council jointly designing and delivering a conference for providers of services
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council working with providers of services
Worcestershire County Council working with their social and health care practitioners
Here are some comments from social and health care practitioners that have attended our sessions:
“It has been mind blowing and very practical and brilliant”
“I am excited about Individual Budgets”
“I will now apply this new way of working from day 1 of my practice”
“Brilliant information”
“Excellent and easy to understand and achievable”
“This really is person centred working”
“I have learned more about person centred assessments”
“I have learnt more about working in a person centred way and that there should be no limits in what people aspire to in order to make their life better”
“I will be better informed when working with the new model of assessment”
“I will use these skills and knowledge in my every day practice”
“I have learnt about creative support planning”
“I have learnt more about how to ‘free up’ thinking regards choices, more variety of choice and empowering the individual”
“Have looked in more depth at how outcomes are achieved”
“I have a better understanding of the new approach and outcome based assessments”
“On returning to work I will continue to listen to what people want and go back with renewed vigour to bring these things about”
“I will use these skills and knowledge on returning to work to support my colleagues as a Senior Practitioner from start to finish of the Individual Budget process”
“I have learnt that I need to suspend my cynicism and make this work for people”
“Excellent training, all interesting, positive and encouraging; more similar please”
“I get it!”
“Excellent training and trainers”