'Seven steps to being in control' is a model of guidance to help individuals through the different stages involved in successfully directing their own support. It explains the seven steps to being in control of your support and offers help and ad...

A support plan is a document highlighting how an individual will spend their personal budget to best meet their support needs and achieve their identified outcomes.

The needs of an individual that have been identified during an assessment process with the council.

The process to clearly identify what social care needs a person may have. It is completed by an assessor (such as a social worker) in partnership with the individual, their relatives or representatives.

A broker is someone who helps individuals choose and access the support they need to be independent. They can also help with a support plan. A professional broker is someone you pay to do this.

Commissioning is the process of selecting and securing care services to produce an individually tailored package of support.

An assessment conducted by a local authority to determine a person's care needs.

One of four levels of need defined by government guidance Fair Access to Care Services (FACS). A need is deemed critical when:

Payments made to an individual following a community care assessment in lieu of services.

A non-means-tested cash benefit for people with a disability who are unable to be wholly self-sufficient. The allowance contributes to the extra costs incurred by disabled people.