Work Plan
The work plan is literally that – the plan of work for the next year. To decide which issues were to be included in the work plan, the Transitionary Board used the Prioritisation Framework developed by the Advisory Group to enable them to objectively prioritise the issues brought to the LINk.
Identification of these was the result of the community engagement work carried out by staff and members of the Oldham LINk, who visited and spoke to many individuals and groups in the borough. Statutory services have also asked the LINk to work with them on a number of issues.
In Control Working Group
The In Control Working Group focuses on the practical issues and implications regarding handling Individual Budgets.
Since January 2009 the LINk have looked at these issues and have now split the group into two sub groups. One focuses on the issues faced by carers who care for people with disabilities and the other looks at the issues faced by older people who would have to create their own care package.
It is apparent that there are problems to be addressed that apply to both groups, however spliting the group enables the LINk to look at specific problems to each type of user.
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What Is In Control?
In Control is the system used by OMBC to deliver Individual Budgets (also known as Personal budgets/ Self Directed Support). Individual Budgets enable users to purchase and design their own care package. It aims to give people greater choice and control over how their care needs are met. For more information about In Control please view the websites below (these will open in a new window).
Department of Health: Social Care: Individual Budgets
In Control : Individual Budgets : Self Directed Support
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Is In Control a National initiative?
No, at the moment Oldham is one of thirteen Boroughs to pilot the scheme in the UK.
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Why has Oldham LINk Prioritised this work?
Outreach work, consultations and professionals from relevant organisations in the Borough highlighted the problems faced by those people using In Control.
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Carers' In Control Working Group
The learning disabilities/ carers In Control Group focuses on the issue of parent carers and how much of the responsibility for Individual Budgets often falls on them. The carer often takes on much of the 'control', therefore defeating the purpose. This group is led by Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre.
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Older People's In Control Working Group
The older people's group focuses on the issues that older people face when accessing In Control (Individual Budgets), and will be led by Age Concern. Some preliminary issues that have been identified include:
- Access to information.
- Lack of Support for managing an Individual Budget.
- Inappropriateness of In Control as a system to serve the wishes of older people and the provision of social care.
- Choice is limited for older people unless they access Individual Budgets, which many older people prefer not to do.
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How do I get Involved?
The Oldham LINk Host Team need people who use the In Control system to come forward and tell us what is good about In Control and what is not so good.
