C.D's Story - Using Option 1
Background
C.D. is in her mid-thirties, lives alone in a privately let ground floor flat. She has mental health issues, asperger's syndrome and complex physical health issues. She had previously received support from a housing support provider but was unhappy with the support provided. Staff were continually changing, they were only able to help her with housework/paperwork/bills/shopping, they didn't listen to what she wanted, there was no progression and no flexibility. When she was unwell staff could do nothing to help so she struggled to get out her house, motivate herself to look after her personal hygiene and appearance, was barely eating, was unable to keep herself safe, and accrued large amounts of debt. She needed more than what they could offer.
Choosing Option 1
C.D. was offered the chance to be part of the direct payments Self Directed Support (SDS) test site and as she felt she had nothing to lose from going through an SDS assessment she took up the opportunity. It was a lengthy process going through the assessment but she felt she was listened to and what she said was taken into account. As she already had a budget this was transferred over to a direct payment which she chose to use to employ a personal assistant. Due to her difficulties in handling money as part of her budget an accountant was paid for to handle the money for her so she didn't have to worry about that. She received help from her social worker and direct payments worker to interview and employ a personal assistant. The first personal assistant she had didn't work out but she now has a personal assistant that she gets on with and who has helped her to continually progress rather than staying as she was. She chose her outcomes with the help of her social worker identifying the things that were necessary as part of her support plan and also the things she wanted to achieve or improve in her life. She said "this was the first time I was able to take control over my support and tell them what I wanted help with rather than having to fit in to a service".
Outcomes
With the support of her personal assistant C.D. is now able to go to the leisure centre to do gentle exercise to help with her physical health, reduce her social isolation, maintain better relationships with friends and family, keep safe and well, get her voice her when speaking to health professionals, manage her health better, go on short breaks as an alternative to respite, learn to look after a dog which she got to help her feel safer at home and for company, and help to be part of her local community.
" Since I've received SDS I've been able to achieve so many things. I was able to go back to college and train to be a nail technician, I got back into exercise, I have fewer severe mental health crises, I have been able to keep myself safe most of the time, I have met new people and made new friends, I'm less isolated, I am managing my health conditions better than I was and have someone to remind me what the drs tell me, and I am able to get away for a few days twice a year to get myself away from home to give me some breathing space, time to relax and a little extra support which helps prevent me from being coming seriously unwell and needing to go into hospital. It hasn't all been plain sailing and there have been some difficulties but on the whole it has been a LOT better for me, I have choice and control, I choose when I want my support and what I want to do that day, and I have the emotional support I had always needed."
C.D. is in her mid-thirties, lives alone in a privately let ground floor flat. She has mental health issues, asperger's syndrome and complex physical health issues. She had previously received support from a housing support provider but was unhappy with the support provided. Staff were continually changing, they were only able to help her with housework/paperwork/bills/shopping, they didn't listen to what she wanted, there was no progression and no flexibility. When she was unwell staff could do nothing to help so she struggled to get out her house, motivate herself to look after her personal hygiene and appearance, was barely eating, was unable to keep herself safe, and accrued large amounts of debt. She needed more than what they could offer.
Choosing Option 1
C.D. was offered the chance to be part of the direct payments Self Directed Support (SDS) test site and as she felt she had nothing to lose from going through an SDS assessment she took up the opportunity. It was a lengthy process going through the assessment but she felt she was listened to and what she said was taken into account. As she already had a budget this was transferred over to a direct payment which she chose to use to employ a personal assistant. Due to her difficulties in handling money as part of her budget an accountant was paid for to handle the money for her so she didn't have to worry about that. She received help from her social worker and direct payments worker to interview and employ a personal assistant. The first personal assistant she had didn't work out but she now has a personal assistant that she gets on with and who has helped her to continually progress rather than staying as she was. She chose her outcomes with the help of her social worker identifying the things that were necessary as part of her support plan and also the things she wanted to achieve or improve in her life. She said "this was the first time I was able to take control over my support and tell them what I wanted help with rather than having to fit in to a service".
Outcomes
With the support of her personal assistant C.D. is now able to go to the leisure centre to do gentle exercise to help with her physical health, reduce her social isolation, maintain better relationships with friends and family, keep safe and well, get her voice her when speaking to health professionals, manage her health better, go on short breaks as an alternative to respite, learn to look after a dog which she got to help her feel safer at home and for company, and help to be part of her local community.
" Since I've received SDS I've been able to achieve so many things. I was able to go back to college and train to be a nail technician, I got back into exercise, I have fewer severe mental health crises, I have been able to keep myself safe most of the time, I have met new people and made new friends, I'm less isolated, I am managing my health conditions better than I was and have someone to remind me what the drs tell me, and I am able to get away for a few days twice a year to get myself away from home to give me some breathing space, time to relax and a little extra support which helps prevent me from being coming seriously unwell and needing to go into hospital. It hasn't all been plain sailing and there have been some difficulties but on the whole it has been a LOT better for me, I have choice and control, I choose when I want my support and what I want to do that day, and I have the emotional support I had always needed."
Update
Using Option 1 in a different way
A decline in her mental health meant that C.D. was unable to cope with her employer responsibilities so after discussion with her social worker decided to choose a support agency instead. Choosing a support agency meant that she received less support hours as it was more expensive. This has resulted in being unable to do all the things she used to but has more focused support to work on her key outcomes. The support workers have been very flexible to allow for changes to support times to get help to attend appointments or to have a day out to help with self travel on public transport. Using a support agency still allows for choice and control over her support but without having to be an employer. Invoices are sent out to be paid and the only records needed to be kept are the invoices and bank statements so C.D. is in the process of opening up a bank account and managing her bank account herself instead of using an accountant.
Using Option 1 in a different way
A decline in her mental health meant that C.D. was unable to cope with her employer responsibilities so after discussion with her social worker decided to choose a support agency instead. Choosing a support agency meant that she received less support hours as it was more expensive. This has resulted in being unable to do all the things she used to but has more focused support to work on her key outcomes. The support workers have been very flexible to allow for changes to support times to get help to attend appointments or to have a day out to help with self travel on public transport. Using a support agency still allows for choice and control over her support but without having to be an employer. Invoices are sent out to be paid and the only records needed to be kept are the invoices and bank statements so C.D. is in the process of opening up a bank account and managing her bank account herself instead of using an accountant.