DWP/033/10
The next step in a radical shake-up of the way disabled
people use state funding took place today, as Jonathan Shaw,
Minister for Disabled People, named the Trailblazer areas which
will test the Right to Control.
Right to Control gives disabled adults more choice and control
over the state funding they receive – allowing them to shape the
support they receive, or use the money to buy their own services
or equipment.
Disabled people in the Trailblazer areas can expect a more
personalised service joining up housing, support into work and
community care. There will also be extra support and advice to
help people choose services and decide how to spend their money.
Jonathan Shaw, Minister for Disabled People, said:
“Disabled
people are the experts in their own lives and that is why, through
the Right to Control, we have worked with them to give people more
control over the funding they receive and the services they use.
“Jobcentre Plus will be working closely with the local
authorities in the Trailblazer areas to help to deliver this
greater independence that disabled people tell me they want.”
“The local authorities announced today will be at the forefront
of this innovative approach to delivering services to disabled
people, and will help identify whether Right to Control should be
rolled out more widely.”
Baroness Jane Campbell, Chair of the Right to Control Advisory
Group, and part of the selection panel for the Trailblazers,
said:
“The Right to Control will give disabled people real
control of their lives, and not just mean we have to make do with
the services that are available. For the first time disabled
people will be able to design their support and who delivers it
from beginning to end. I’m very excited about working with the
chosen Trailblazer areas to make choice for disabled people a reality.”
Under the Right to Control, disabled people will be able to
organise their current support arrangements to better meet their
needs, choose a cash payment to buy their own support services or
equipment, or have a mixture of both. Alternatively, if people are
happy with the support they currently receive, they won’t have to
change anything.
For example, someone with a learning disability may get help from
Supporting People to learn skills like cooking and budgeting. They
may also get support from Work Choice, which helps people find a
job. They could choose to combine their support by paying for a
local college course, where they learn life skills and job skills.
The eight Trailblazing local authorities have been named as:
- Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and Sheffield City
Council (joint)
- Essex County Council
- Greater
Manchester – incorporating Manchester City Council, Oldham
Council, Bury Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and
Trafford Council
- Leicester City Council
- London
Borough of Barnet
- London Borough of Newham
- Redcar and
Cleveland Borough Council, and
- Surrey County Council (two
Districts Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, and Reigate and
Banstead Borough Council)
Each of these local authorities will have to work with disabled
people to develop individual support plans and each plan will make
effective use of all the funding available to an individual, to
meet their goals.
£7 million will be available for Trailblazer local authorities
and Jobcentre Plus to make the changes necessary to deliver the
Right to Control.
Notes to Editors
1. We selected a range of local authorities, so that the Right to
Control is tested in many different ways – eg areas with different
geography and demography (eg urban/rural, borough/unitary
authority, age profile, BME profile, economic conditions)
2. Areas selected demonstrated a commitment to personalising
services for disabled people. Authorities will be giving control
back to local disabled people - devolving decisions to individuals.
3. Trailblazer authorities will continue working with disabled
people and service providers in their area, to decide how to run
the Trailblazer. Trailblazers will start before the end of 2010.
Trailblazers will also join up with other government initiatives
operating in the same areas eg Personal Health Budgets or Jobs First.
4. Disabled people will be able to have more control over the
funding and services available through these funding streams:
Access to Work, Work Choice, Supporting People, Disabled
Facilities Grant, the Independent Living Fund and Adult Community Care.
5. The government is today also publishing a consultation on the
regulations that will govern the trailblazers. This is aimed at
Trailblazer authorities and local disability organisations. The
consultation will close on 19 May 2009. Download the consultation
from www.odi.gov.uk/right-to-control.
Braille and audio available on request.
6. The government has worked closely with disabled people to
develop the Right to Control, including with our Advisory Group,
chaired by Baroness Jane Campbell.
Contacts:
Department Work and Pensions
Phone: 020 3267 5144
NDS.DWP@coi.gsi.gov.uk