Glossary - what the words mean
Self-Directed Support has its own language. If you're puzzled by some of the words, you're not alone.
Resource allocation, brokerage, personalisation: these and other terms are new to most of us.
Below is a list of some of the more common words. We will add to this list each time someone asks for a definition.
Assessment form
A simple form that helps you work outwhat money you can get for your support. Your local authority has tocheck your assessment and agree the amount. Some authorities call thisassessment the ‘Self-Assessment’ or ‘Supported Self-Assessment’.
Attorney and Deputy
The Mental Capacity Act says somepeople must have an Attorney or Deputy to make decisions about money,health and support. This is for people who can’t decide thingsthemselves – who ‘lack capacity’.
Broker
Someone who helps you sort out your support. Sometimes they also help with the Support Plan. A professional broker is someone you pay to do this.
Direct Payment
Money that is paid to you so you can arrange your own support. Direct Payments have been around since 1996. In many places, Direct Payments came with restrictions. In Self-Directed Support you can still take the money as a Direct Payment and you have more flexibility about how you spend it. Direct Payments are not the only way you can have control over your money. Someone else can hold the money for you - a family member or other representative, a trust, an organisation, or a Care Manager.
In Control
The organisation that helps to make Self-Directed Support happen.
Personal assistants
People you choose to work for you and support you in a way that is right for you.
Personal Budget or Individual Budget
The money you get to pay for your support and other things in your support plan.
The difference between the two is:
- A Personal Budget is money from Social Services.
- An Individual Budget is money that could come from several places – including Social Services, the Independent Living Fund and Supporting People.
You should know how much money there is for your Budget. You have to plan what you will do with the Budget. You have to make a Support Plan. This Plan must show what the outcomes of your spending will be – what your money will make happen. One important feature of a Personal or Individual Budget is that you can spend the money at times and in ways that work for you.
Personalisation
The Government’s word for the new wayof organising public services. Everyone who uses support should havechoice and control over that support.
The Government says this is the new system – it’s here to stay.
Resource Allocation System
The system a local authority uses to decide how much money you get foryour support. The system has clear, public rules so everyone can seethat money is given out fairly.
Self-Directed Support
Support that you decide and control. You control the money for support – your Budget. You choose what support you want and how to spend your Budget. You can get help to do this if you want.
Self-DirectedSupport is the new way of organising social care. In Control firstfigured out how Self-Directed Support could work. In 2007, theGovernment decided it would be the new social care system.
Support Plan
A Support Plan says how you will spend your budget to get the life you want. You can get help to make a plan – perhaps from family or friends, or you could pay someone who specialises in planning. Your local authority must agree your plan before you get your support money.
Trust
A group of people who the law says can look after your money for you. The group has to set itself up as a legal Trust. This isn’t hard to do. (These are sometimes called “Independent Living Trusts” to distinguish them from other kinds).