Choosing Independence works with groups of Disabled People and individuals to give information, support and advice Personalisation. Personalisation is a way of funding social care that gives Disabled people real choice and control over the assistance and services they need to be able to live independently.
Choosing Independence is supported by Volunteers who themselves are personal budget users
Spreading the word on Personal Budgets
Staff & Volunteers in the Choosing Independence project have been busy networking with organisations and community groups raising greater awareness of personal budgets. On December 2nd we held a successful event in Swinton promoting Personal Budgets. The event attracted over 60 people from Rotherham and Doncaster. Delgates were able to hear first hand from both Disabled people and Carers of the difference having a personal budget can make to a persons life. "A great day well organised and fun" Sandy Marshall
The team have been working with individual Service Users of SCOPE Rotherham on a number of issues including Personalisation. We have given a number of presentations to the Alzheimer’s Society and their Carers Support group, additionally, have given talks to Diabetes UK, Parkinsons Society, Doncaster ‘Take Heart’ Group. The CI team have engaged with a number of TARA’s including Carcroft, Toll Bar and Charles Court and have presented to St Leger Homes of Doncaster (SLHD) Disability Forum.
We have had exhibition stalls in a number of events including Doncaster Partnership for Carers Event & Rotherham Carers event; RAIN – Rotherham Information day.
About our volunteers
SYCIL has a team of Disabled volunteers who are themselves personal budget users. Some of our volunteers share their stories; Rochelle Dawes, Toyah Wordsworth
Volunteers are involved in the project in a number of ways including:
- Disability Equality Training
- Consultation with DMBC about personal budgets
- Administration
- Publicity & Marketing
- Mentoring
Volunteers and Mentoring
Mentoring is a key part of the service offering support to Disabled people. The Peer Mentors at SYCIL are all Disabled people or have experience of working with Disabled people. They have attended a Peer Mentoring Training course in 3 modules organised for SYCIL by Voluntary Action Sheffield.
Click here to see. What does a mentor do?
Some of the key tasks a mentor may do include:
- Get to know the service user
- Listen to the service user and discuss anything that is worrying them
- Value their opinions and beliefs
- Encourage them to achieve their objectives
- Talk about relevant experiences/problems they have overcome (if appropriate)
- Encourage service users to talk and think about their ambitions and hopes for the future and plan the steps needed to get there
The service is confidential and free. If you think a Peer Mentor may help you to achieve what you want to in life and be more independent please contact:
Jane Kidd 01302 892945, email jane.k@sycil.org
If you would like to volunteer at SYCIL but would prefer not to become a Peer Mentor Jane would also like to hear from you. Whatever your skill or interests SYCIL are always grateful for willing volunteers.
About Outreach
Glyn Jones, the Choosing Independence Outreach Project Co-ordinator is now busy booking information sessions with local community groups who may have members that would benefit from Direct Payments or a Personal Budget.
If you are a member of a community group or an organisation with colleagues you feel would like to know more about Personalisation please call Glyn Jones on 01302 892949, email glyn.jones@sycil.org
For more information please contact Jane Kidd on 01302 892945 or Glyn Jones on 01302 892953 or Kim Nightingale on 01302 892944
If you know someone who may benefit from this service please use this Referral Form to pass their details on to us.
Success Stories
The Advocate's View... G was first referred to The ENABLE Advocacy Service by his social worker. Initially he wanted help to find out about accessible housing options and choices available for getting some help with care when he was eventually able to move out of the parental home. SYCIL's advocate was able to provide information about the then Direct Payments system, and offer support through the process when G was ready. As months passed no assessment for the Accessible Housing Register was forthcoming, so Helen, SYCIL's advocate contacted the relevant people at the local Council, and the assessment was carried out within a week.
Months after getting onto the Accessible Housing Register G's mother and carer S, contacted SYCIL again for information. The family was due to go on holiday in another 6 months and G would be left home alone for several weeks. Helen was able to help the family to obtain a pendant alarm from the local council so that he could call for assistance urgently if needed when home alone. Helen was also able to provide information about the new system of Personal Budgets, and supported the family through making an application to Social Services. Once G had been allocated a social worker, Helen as able to offer support at the following meetings with the social worker through the personalization process.
After the first meeting Helen asked if G had heard anything from Accessible Housing, and on being told that he had not, agreed to chase this up. Within a week of the first meeting to go through the self assessment questionnaire with the social worker, G was offered a fully accessible bungalow a short distance from the family home, which was almost perfect for his needs. Being able to move to an accessible property without the attendant dangers of stairs and an inaccessible bathroom, meant that G's need for support would be reduced, but that he would need some support every week, rather than merely whilst his mother was away, so the self assessment questionnaire and support plan therefore had to be amended to account for this.
The only other issues were obtaining furniture - Helen was able to signpost to some sources where this could be obtained at a discount, and finding suitable accommodation for G's scooter, and again Helen was able to refer G to a local organization which agreed to help with this.
Fact Sheets on Direct Payments and Personal Budgets
Personal Budgets
Workshop questions and answers about Personal Budgets Independent Living Event 18.11.10