Information is power in the personalisation age

This can clearly be applied to social care and yes, personalisation. In order for personalisation to work, service users need to be well informed and when the going gets tough, to be super-informed. I know a lot more about direct payments than my social workers for many years have. I have also often advocated for service users in assessments and have had a fair degree of success in persuading social workers to change their minds.

Bluffers

One of the most valuable things I have learned is that most people who deal with the public do not actually know a lot about their work or the company they work for, and will bluff their way out of awkward questions. This is where knowing the information in detail beforehand is important and, with a little research, I have often told people information about their company which they did not know, including simple stuff like what products they sell.

This is why I prefer to deal with experienced social workers. They tend to understand my specific needs and have a good knowledge of the system. To the inexperienced worker I fear that I can appear like an evil villain who may be about to feed them to the sharks.

Individual budget pilot

I have a very good social worker right now due to the individual budget pilot and we have become friends and colleagues due to our interest in the issue. As a manager, they clearly need to "sign me off", and I have seriously decided that in the spirit of personalisation that I am going to interview to find my next social worker to ensure we are able to work together.

Information is power, and professionals in any field, including religious and social care, have always withheld information to ensure their power is retained. But thing are changing and the power is shifting.

Simon Stevens is an independent disability trainer and consultant. Click here for his website