If you've had a social care assessment and this shows you qualify for help from us, you have an option of how you receive this support.

You may choose to:

• Let a provider meet your care and support needs. This can be arranged by our brokerage team.
• Have a direct payment. This gives you more control and flexibility over how your care and support is arranged and provided.

We'll tell you how much money you're entitled to for paying for your support. This is called your personal budget. We'll also talk to you about the different ways you can manage this money. You may choose to:

• Have a direct payment that’s paid into a dedicated bank account for you to arrange your care services. This will be detailed in your support plan.
• Have a direct payment via an agent or representative, who'll arrange your care and support services on your behalf.
• Have a supported managed account where an organisation, or a third-party organisation, will manage the financial arrangements for you. You'll still be responsible for arranging the other aspects of your care services.

We'll work out a support plan with you. We'll agree how your personal budget is going to be spent to meet your needs. Your support plan will include things like:

• What you want to achieve for yourself.
• Any equipment or minor adaptations that would help you to live at home.
• The support within your community.
• The support you currently have in place.
• What support you'll get and who'll provide it. You may want to find and employ a PA (personal assistant) or buy support from an agency.
• When and how often you'll get help.

Useful links

• Our direct payments guidance.
• In Control is a national charity and have developed some useful fact sheets about personal budgets. Please note that BMBC is not able, at this time, to offer all of the payment options detailed in Fact Sheet 8.
• The Social Care Institute for Excellence also has a helpful guide to personalisation.
• Information for Social Care Practitioners on self-directed support.