WIREDGOV

Commissioning adult social care services through personal budgets & direct payments is an important way of giving care users more choice & control over their services.  When implemented well they improve users’ quality of life. The Department of Health, however, requires a deeper understanding of the best ways to implement personalised commissioning, according to the National Audit Office.

It found that some authorities have transformed their care & support processes to ration their resources fairly, share information about a broad range of local services, and monitor & manage spending on personal budgets efficiently, while others are finding personalising commissioning a challenge as they seek to save money, and are constrained in how they can personalise care by the need to reduce overall spending.

NAO:  Personalised commissioning in adult social care

NHS England:  The power of partnerships

LGA responds to NAO report on personalised commissioning in adult social care

Some personal care problems can be resolved quickly & cheaply using common sense

When it’s your own care it gets very personal

Next Managing direct payments to pay for the care you need

Age UK:  Direct payments for social care: options for managing the cash

Carers Trust:  Advice & support on personal budgets & employing care staff