The Best Disability Support: 10 Tips
United Response is a firm believer in personal budgets, and that self-directed supports are the best way to give people real choice and control. Their approach has always been to tailor support to every individual. In this way, they view TriCare Services self-direction and individual budgets as natural extensions of the work that they do.
They are also creative and innovative in how they organize their budgets. From our own experience, we are aware of the confusion that potential service purchasers and their family members face when adjusting to this brand new system. Some people are scared of taking on the direct responsibility for managing a household budget.
They have worked together with the Voluntary Organisation Disability Group (VODG), to produce a Top Ten Tips guide to anyone looking to purchase support services in social care, whether for themselves or a close friend or family member.
The guide’s aim is to show you how to choose a service provider for support, as well as what questions you should ask when developing your needs and paying for them.
Top 10 Tips
1. How do you wish to be supported? Would you like a support worker (SW) or a personal Assistant (PA), for example? You will either hire through an agent or directly.
2. Be aware of first impressions. Conversations with your service provider at the beginning of the relationship will provide a great indication for future interactions. The provider does what they promise? When did they respond to your request?
3. How will they develop the support package? It is important that your support provider spends time learning about you and what you need. Together, they should create a person-centred plan. They will also provide a contract which outlines your support.
4. You should know how to monitor your support and make changes. The support provider you choose should review your support annually – this is sometimes called “person-centred reviews” – and should include yourself.
5. What is included in the price? The price should be confirmed by your provider and not changed after the contract is signed, except for mutual agreement.
6. You should check the qualifications of those who are going to support you. Quality staff should be assigned to you by your support provider based on the needs of each individual.
7. Verify that they are able to provide you with the support and safety necessary. Make sure your provider’s registered with the regulator of choice and that they are carrying out other quality testing.
8. Your right to make a complaint is important. When things go wrong, whom do you contact?
9. How can you terminate the agreement? You should also find out the length of notice required, as well as any fees such staff salaries and other exit costs.
10. Discover more. More information is available below. Also, learn some jargon (see the section on jargon in the Top Ten Tips guide). Care and support often includes a great deal of terminology.