Issue - meetings

The Scrutiny Commission to receive a brief presentation that will provide an overview of implementing Personal Budgets and Direct Payments in Leicester. A copy of the presentation is attached, together with an Adult Social Care ‘jargon buster’.

The Director of Adult Social Care and Safeguarding presented to Members an update on the implementation of personal budgets and direct payments in Leicester. 

The presentation gave details of:

·               The definitions of key terms

·               The history of direct payments and how direct they were managed

·               The development of personal budgets and details what was tested and implementation

·               National and Leicester learning

·               A summary of service users for April – September 2013

·               Supported Assessment and Resource Allocation systems and how they work

·               Support planning and brokerage work

·               Details of key issues for Members consideration.

It was noted that many users would see little difference however some would take the opportunity to do different things.  In terms of questions it was stated that monies were paid direct to the service provider and not spent by the user.

A multi-disciplinary approach would be taken in order to help service users with mental health issues for example.  A key challenge was acknowledged as communicating the changes to users and supporting them through the process.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be noted and that a six month report that evaluates the effectiveness of the indicative personal budgets be brought back to the Scrutiny Commission.