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What is Putting People First?
Challenges in Oxfordshire
What are the benefits of self directed support?
In October 2010 Oxfordshire County Council officially implemented self directed support as the process through which people can access care and support. Self directed support has replaced the previous care management model completely. The new way of working was introduced after a 3-year programme developed the Oxfordshire model, which was extensively tested prior to county-wide roll-out.
What is Putting People First?
In December 2007 ‘Putting People First’ was published which announced the transformation of Adult Social Care. The embedding of personalisation within social care is a key change which will be driven through self directed support.
This clip explains the key themes at the heart of 'Putting People First' and explores what we mean by 'Early Intervention & Prevention', 'Choice and Control', 'Social Capital' and 'Universal Services - the four quadrants in 'Putting People First'.
Transforming Adult Social Care from DH Care Networks on Vimeo.
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Challenges in Oxfordshire
The council faces a number of serious challenges over the coming years which will drive a change in how we deliver services.
- Demographic challenge: The number of older people is set to grow by 54% by 2027.
- Increased choice and control: Our clients expect to choose the services and support they require in order to live more successful lives.
- Increased independence: Our clients want to spend more time living in their own homes and live independent lives.
- Better outcomes for clients: The council wants to deliver better outcomes for its clients.
- Government direction: The Government has published Putting People First which expects a significant transformation in the way services are delivered.
- Economic and budgetary pressures: cuts in public spending are reflected in adult social care.
The demographic challenge is going to impact on services unless a significant change in focus is made. A recent Care Quality Commission (CQC, formely CSCI) report highlighted the tightening eligibility criteria which, in effect, mean that councils are able to help fewer people but with more people needing to access services. The Government has outlined that ‘doing nothing is not an option’.
"The ambition is to replace paternalistic, reactive care of variable quality with a mainstream system focused on prevention, early intervention, enablement, and high quality personally tailored services. In the future, we want people to have maximum choice, control and power over the support services they receive."
- Putting People First, p3
What are the benefits of self directed support?
Self directed support is the process by which a person has choice and control over the support that they need to go about their daily lives; the personal budget is the process of delivering the funds to the person.
Evidence from national pilots and the introduction of self directed support in Oxfordshire has found benefits in the following areas:
- Improved health and emotional well-being
- Improved quality of life
- Making a positive contribution
- Increased choice and control
- Freedom from discrimination and harassment - Equality of access to services
- Economic well-being
- Maintaining personal dignity and respect
- Increased capacity
