The introduction of Self-Directed Support and Personal Budgets means that social care providers will need to make changes to their businesses as individuals begin to take control of their lives. Cambridgeshire County Council's programme of provider workshops has been described as "inspirational" and the online support materials as "comprehensive" and "just what's needed". How did this come about?
Back in the summer, following the launch of Self-Directed Support in Cambridgeshire, it became clear that the need for information about the move to Self-Directed Support and what this might mean for organisations delivering services was great, engagement was varied, and knowledge ranged from those needing a lot of information and assistance to others requiring only advice about the best ways to implement new business processes.
To help with this need we (Cambridgeshire County Council's Transformation Team and Workforce Development Manager) got together with our local Business Link and The Opportunities Trust to discuss the development of a toolkit that would help service providers prepare their business for Self-Directed Support. The result would be an online resource designed to be 'dipped into' rather than worked through, and supported by a series of free workshops facilitated by Business Link, The Opportunities Trust and representatives from our provider 'champions'- a group made up of local social care providers from all sectors who have positively signed-up to the move to Self-Directed Support.
Starting from a basic outline of what the content might be, the development of the toolkit wasn't always easy with a number of issues needing to be addressed e.g. deciding on the most useful ways to include information, and accessing "specialist" information from third parties. But issues were worked around, solutions found and suggestions for additional resources generated while we waited for the content to be finalised. The outcome is a comprehensive resource that helps providers to think about the role their organisation will play in the personalisation agenda, how they can individualise their services, and how they can work to put individuals in control of their own support.
The toolkit covers six chapters - SDS The Basic Facts; Changing Business Models; Ensuring Quality; New Providers or Emerging Services; Safeguarding; and Understanding Outcomes. The first of the workshops, which complement the chapter titles, took place in September and proved so popular that further sessions were booked and a waiting list established. Further workshops are planned for 2010. The online resource went "live" in December and includes a range of topics under each of the chapter headings each with links to helpful advice and information, downloadable guidance, and information about briefings, workshops and seminars to support the topic.
We have advertised the toolkit through our provider newsletter and comments have been positive, as recorded above. In addition to more workshops our plans include continuing to add new online content to the toolkit as Self-Directed Support becomes embedded in business processes and the requirements for information and advice change. The toolkit is available online at www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/social/selfdirectedsupport/toolkit/