Personal budgets are an agreement between an individual and local authority after assessing the individual's support needs, providing a set amount of money annually to pay for care. There are two forms: direct payments which give control over how funds are spent but require managing payments as an employer; and managed accounts where the local authority manages the funds. Benefits of direct payments include more flexibility, control, and rapid access to support, but challenges include being limited by the set budget and having to carefully manage funds. Overall, personal budgets can increase opportunities for education or employment while also creating new responsibilities for individuals.

1. PERSONALISATION
BUDGETS 2
Continued from previous lesson.

2. OBJECTIVES AND OUTCOMES
Objective:
You will understand the benefits and impacts of personalisation in particular the
benefits and impacts of personalisation. In particular, budgets the challenges and
benefits on the individual.
Outcome:
By the end of the lesson you will be able to list the challenges and benefits of
personal budgets and explain how it impacts the individual.

3. PERSONAL BUDGETS FACTS:
• They are an agreement after an assessment of an individuals needs.
• They are means tested;
• meaning, you must have access to social care and support to be eligible.
• They are a set annual amount of money given by the Local Authority in
accordance to the individuals support needs.
• They must be spent on needs outlined in the Support Plan or Care Plan.
• There are two forms.

4. WHAT ARE THE TWO FORMS OF
PERSONAL BUDGET?
•Direct Payments
•Managed Accounts

5. DIRECT PAYMENTS BENEFITS
We looked at the two case studies:
From the two case studies what were the benefits of direct payments?
• Speedy (rapid) support.
• Access to services.
• Control of payments and choice (timetable not forced on).
• Employ a Personal Assistant.
• Less waiting time for approval from local authority (payment of care).
• Care can be paid for instantly.

6. DIRECT PAYMENTS
Looking at the bigger picture, what are the new opportunities made available after
introducing these payments?
Hint: Are they able to work or are they completely “disabled”?
Chances to enter education or employment.

7. DIRECT PAYMENTS IMPACTS
(CHALLENGES)
What are the challenges of personalisation towards the individual?
• Care is limited due to a set sum of money.
• Individual will have to wait until next payment every April (financial year).
• Individual needs to know their plans to be assessed and apply for relevant support
which they may be entitled to, otherwise they may not be eligible for funding -
especially during the recession and government cuts.
• Short of funds if individual not within budget.
• Worry about spending, why?
• LA may ask for bank statements to see if the money has actually been spent
on needs documented in support plan.

8. PLENARY
• Write three things on a post it note that you have learned about personal budgets.
Stick them on the whiteboard

9. HOMEWORK
• Although direct payments have positive aspects, issues may arise because
individuals take on the responsibility of employers. Using the internet, or by talking
to people in a setting you know, research the issues for direct budget holders and
assess the impact of these issues.
• Do Green box activity on page 114.