Individual care budget

Michelle Mayman
The Politics Show North West

The IB - Gavin's choice for his future

Gavin Croft is many things - a talented web designer, a fan of Rochdale FC and a multiple sclerosis sufferer. He has also taken part in a new funding pilot through Oldham Borough Council...

Instead of the council providing social care, Gavin Croft has been given an "Individual Budget" (IB) for his social care he needs to live his life

Gavin was eligible for money to cover his social needs. So he decided to buy a season ticket for Rochdale's home games and he pays his friend travel expenses to take him to the ground.

It ticks several boxes in his care package: he gets out, he socialises and his wife gets respite from caring for him.

Crucially, it is something that 40-year-old Gavin Croft would choose to do.

Needs assessed

Like all the other people who are eligible, Gavin's needs were assessed by a social worker.

Each "need" has a set amount of money agreed to cover it and the whole amount is added up to make up the Individual Budget.

Gavin then worked with the social worker to write a support plan.

He was allowed to spend the money on anything that helped him meet his needs... including a season ticket to watch Rochdale FC.

Although evaluation of the Individual Budget Pilots like the one in Oldham is not yet complete, it looks like the IB is here to stay.

Individual care budget scheme expanded

Now the government has announced that, from April 2008, millions of pensioners will be given control of the cash to cover their own social care too, talk of exit strategies seems to be disappearing.

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said the measure would give "real control" to individuals.

The Chairman of the Local Government Association, Sir Simon Milton, described the change as a "landmark agreement".

Gavin Croft says having control means living your own life - doing what you want to do. But handling an Individual Budget comes with its challenges.

Agency assistance

You may be able to employ your neighbour as carer

The move to Individual Budgets is quite a momentous shift in the balance of power when it comes to care.

Disabled people or pensioners could find themselves having to become employers, deal with PAYE and sick pay.

What is more likely to happen is that "agents" spring up to handle care packages on behalf of individuals.

For many years, the culture has been that the state will provide a service and many people will use it - like day-care centres or meals-on-wheels.

By handing the money over to individuals, the authorities are expecting a shift away from some centrally provided services.

Union concern

The public service union, Unison, is concerned that the government is rushing ahead with this major development without a proper analysis of the big questions like cost, outcomes and impact on other services.

The union says it is not simply looking out for its members' jobs.

It is concerned that service users may simply settle for a level of care which does not stretch them in a way which an expert from the care sector may be able to.

Unison wants to work with authorities and users to look at alternative models for how in-house services can build up good practice on user independence and control.

The Politics Show for the NorthWest and Cumbria, with Jon Sopel and Annabel Tiffin on Sunday 13 January 2008 at 12:00 GMT on BBC One.

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