Think Local Act Personal Tag Listing

The Easy Read document below gives an overview of the Making it Real framework. More information is available on our Making it Real webpages.

Think Local, Act Personal has developed new advice and thinking around how to reduce bureaucracy by developing three linked papers:Adult Social Care Minimum Process Framework Improving Direct Payment Delivery Re-thinking Support Planning: Ideas for an Alternative Approach These three linked papers show that to achieve good results that make a difference to people's lives, there needs to be simplicity and clarity around the processes of Personal Budgets.

The document below gives an overview of the Making it Real framework. More information is available on our Making it Real webpages.

Personal Budgets: Taking Stock, Moving Forward provides an overview of the latest evidence in how the sector is progressing with the delivery of personal budgets. There has been some important progress made, with encouraging evidence showing improved outcomes for people.

New research, commissioned on behalf of councils, has highlighted the growing significance of people paying for their own care and support ('self-funders') and underlined the importance of people getting the right information and advice when it comes to understanding and considering their options. The two linked reports from the Institute for Public Policy at Oxford Brookes University and Melanie Henwood Associates suggest that people who pay for their own care are not guaranteed greater choice and control unless they are properly advised, but it is also clear that many people do not wish to approach councils to get that advice.

Employers for Carers is a service for employers to help them retain the 1 in 7 employees in their workforce caring for a family member. It promotes the business benefitsof supporting carers and provides advice and support on carer-friendly policy and practice.

In response to requests from young carers that noticeboards in GP surgeries display up-to-date information about support and resources for young carers and their families, a pack has been circulated to practice managers and GP partners to highlight the support needs of young carers which includes:a poster for display in the waiting area, with space for details of the local project/agency offering support to young carers or the nominated person in the practice; a poster for use on a staff noticeboard; a 'quick checklist' for supporting and signposting young carers'; a leaflet for healthcare professionals, 'Supporting young carers and their families'; and contact details for further information and training. "I quite often go in with my mother when she goes to the doctor but they still don't recognise that fact that I'm a young carer and still don't pay attention or give time to that matter.

Kent has adopted a carer-led model of support for carers. Carers FIRST is an independent, charitable organisation supporting and helping carers with funding support from Kent Social Services and other sources.

Local Government Improvement and Development (LGID) has been working with councils to support them in developing local strategies for information and advice as part of Putting People First. This work has led to proposals to develop a national spine of core information on adult social care for use by the sector and the public.

Torbay Care Trust wants to encourage carers to receive appropriate support as easily as possible. One way is through self-assessment, either on their own or with support.