Support Brokerage

Sometimes people need support to be in control of their Individual Budget. While some people think this should be delivered by an independent professional In Control has argued strongly that all the evidence suggests that this should be only one minority form of support. Instead In Control promotes community-focused brokerage.

When In Control developed the idea of an Individual Budget and its model of Self-Directed Support in 2003 it surprised many observers by rejecting the assumption that Self-Directed Support would only be possible if people could access 'service brokers' or 'care navigators.' The evidence suggests that this will only repeat the errors of the past in encouraging a certain class of people to believe they 'know better' than older people, disabled people or their friends and families.

Of course some people do need extra support to plan, organise and manage support; but it makes more sense to encourage the widest possible group of people to provide that support, and to do all we can to make sure that it is as easy as possible for people to take control without undue complexity or professionalism. Instead of thinking about brokers as people In Control proposed that we think about the function of brokerage and try to identify the best people to do the different kinds of things people might need help with. Simplifying somewhat it seems that there are at least 6 different groups who can offer some or all of the different elements of brokerage support:



In Control has published a number of papers exploring these ideas. The most recent of which can be found here:

New Support System Version 2.0.pdf

One interesting and positive example of working in this way has been demonstrated by Barnsley who have developed a hub to promote brokerage from across the whole community. To read more see below:

Independent Brokerage Hub.pdf

Report on the Journey of the Independent Brokerage Hub.pdf

Our thanks to Barnsley for sharing this information with the whole In Control community.