Inverness seminars to put spotlight on new way of caring
Care providers throughout the Highlands are being invited to attend an event in Inverness highlighting a new, flexible way of providing social care services, which puts the person receiving care more in control.
Self-directed support is a pilot project being run by Highland Council’s social work service and funded by the Scottish Government. In 2009 Highland Council was approached by the Scottish Government to become one of three test sites to promote self-directed support.
The free, one-day seminars running on September 13 and 14 at Inverness Town House will provide delegates with information about the future trends in personalised care.
It will also give participants the chance to hear from service users and their families about the impact self-directed support has had on their lives.
Guest speakers will include Donna Thompson, head of personalisation at Enable Scotland, Jamie Hanson, regional co-ordinator of the UK’s National Brokerage Network, and Bette Francis from the Scottish Government’s self-directed support team.
Under self-directed support the money normally spent on supporting people for items such as activities, respite care and personal care will go straight to the service users so they can control how their allocated individual budget can be best used to achieve their agreed outcomes.
The Scottish Government and Highland Council have agreed people can be considered eligible for a self-directed support package, and given priority for inclusion, if:
They are assessed as being eligible for a social work service.
Their quality of life can be improved by the achievement of clear outcomes within identified time frames.
They are in the transition age group of 16-19 and have been assessed as vulnerable.
They are a patient in Invergordon Hospital or the Royal Northern Infirmary and could be discharged earlier with access to self-directed support.
Highland Council’s housing and social work committee chairwoman Councillor Margaret Davidson will be welcoming delegates to the information days.
She said: “Self-directed support enables people to choose services to suit and improve their lifestyles.”
Places must be booked in advance by contacting 0843 2899306 or logging on to www.creatingcontrol.event-brite.com
