Hampshire Council offers social care choices with launch of pilot scheme

Adults who receive social care in Hampshire will have more say in the services they receive as part of a new pilot scheme launched for the new year.

Hampshire County Council will introduce the Self Directed Support pilot scheme to the north of the county from April, while south Hampshire residents will join in July, before the remainder of the county is included in October.

The scheme is being introduced to help people remain as independent as possible.

The Self Directed Support pilot has been tested upon 240 adults in Basingstoke, where there is said to be more opportunities for people to choose the support they require.

Felicity Hindson, Hampshire’s adult social care cabinet member, said: “Self Directed Support will allow people to have the services and activities they really want and that are relevant to them.

“Whether that is employing someone to come in every morning to make them a cup of tea, take them shopping, or out for an evening this will enable people to live their lives how they choose to live them.”