Person-centred care and support Easy-Read
Contents STEP 1 Assessment STEP 2 How does it work? STEP 3 How can I spend my Personal Budget? STEP 4 Who can help me with my care and support? STEP 5 What if I am not happy with what the Council decides?
What is care and support? The way Richmond Council helps people who need support You will also be more in control of your care and support. The Council will make you that you will: help decide the care and support you get be able to make sure you get the care and support you need know how much your care costs know how much the council pays towards your care and how the money is spent. You decide what help and support to buy and how you want to live your life.
How does it work? You must fill in a form called the assessment. You will need to tick some boxes that describe you and your situation. The form helps the Council work out the amount of money that you may get to meet your needs. This is called your Personal Budget. Will I have to do anything else? Yes. You will have to fill in a Financial Assessment Form. This is so the Council can work out how much you may have to pay towards the cost of your support. The Council will charge this from the start of any support or services you receive. What happens next? You will have to write a Support Plan to say how you will spend your Personal Budget and the support you need to be independent. This tells the Council: What is important to you What you want to change or achieve How you will manage your Personal Budget money How you will spend your Personal Budget How you will get the support you need Who will help look after the money for you That you are making good use of the money This should all take around 4 weeks.
How can I spend my Personal Budget? There are lots of ways you could spend your Personal Budget. You must show how these things are a good deal for you. To help you decide, here are some examples: To buy support to live in your own home. To pay someone to support you in a job or at college. To get support with your personal care things like having a bath, washing or getting dressed. To get support to do sport or enjoy leisure. To get support for a short break or holiday.
There are also some things that your Personal Budget cannot be spent on: Anything that makes life worse for you or puts you at risk. Paying people cash-in-hand for work they do for you. Employing family members who already live with you. Paying household bills, buying clothes or food, illegal drugs, gambling or paying off debts. Buying services that will be provided by the National Health Service (NHS).
Who can help me? You can ask family, friends, a support worker, a support broker or your social worker for help writing your Support Plan. They can also help you organise things you said in your Support Plan like: Employing a Support Worker Finding a Support Agency to help you You can ask your support worker or social worker about playing board games to help you understand personal budgets. You can also ask an independent organisation to help you with your Personal Budget. Your social wotrer will help you contact them.
What if I am not happy with what the Council decides? If you are not happy with your Assessment, Support Plan or Personal Budget decision, you can ask your social worker to appeal. You need to tell them why you are unhappy. A manager will then review the decision. They may contact you for more information. The Council will then write to you with the decision.
What if I am still unhappy? A solution will usually be found but if you are still unhappy you can start a Complaints Process. Your Social Worker will help you do this. Or you can contact the Corporate Complaints Manager at anytime: in writing: Adult and Community Services, London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, 3rd Floor, Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 3BZ by telephone: on 020 8891 7937 or by email: socialservices.complaints@richmond.gov.uk
Please contact us if you need this leaflet in Braille large print audio tape or another language Phone: 0208 891 7971 Ref: 072/03/11