Option 3 - Arranged Support

Self-Directed Support Option 3 - Arranged Support

What is Arranged Support?

Option 3 is currently known as 'arranged support' whereby the Council manages your individual budget and purchases services on your behalf from providers that have contracts with the council.

By choosing option 3 you have not lost choice and control over your support. Your practitioner will still support and engage with you about how you would like your support to be delivered to meet your agreed outcomes and will monitor these arrangements appropriately.

In cases where the supported person does not have capacity and cannot make the decision about how the care and support will be delivered and where there is no legal representative in place, they can only be offered an option 3 arrangement.

The individual can request the council to choose, arrange and pay for their care and support on their behalf. This option will be necessary if the individual does not have capacity or a legal guardian or a Power of Attorney and Guardianship who can make decisions regarding their care and support on their behalf.

Carers and option 3

Carers can help the person they look after to choose what kind of support they get, and they can also get support under option 3 in their own right.

Your assessment and support plan

Once your eligibility for a social work service has been confirmed, an outcome-focused assessment will evidence your assessed needs. A Support Plan will then be completed by you and your practitioner which will focus on what outcomes you want to achieve and how you hope to achieve them. As part of the support planning process, your practitioner will advise you how much your individual budget is, as it should be very clear as to what monies are available and how these can be spent to meet your agreed outcomes. If you have any queries about the assessment and support planning process, you should contact your named practitioner.

Your individual budget

The Council will inform you of the budget that is available for you to spend on meeting your agreed outcomes. This funding is provided by the Council and therefore must be accounted for and audited in line with statutory responsibilities.

Individual budgets will vary from person to person due to individuals having different needs, circumstances and preferred outcomes. Your individual budget will be subject to review on an annual basis.

Self Directed Support: Personal Budget

Contributing to your care and support

A non-residential financial assessment will be completed, where applicable, to find out if you should make a financial contribution towards your support. Your practitioner will help you to complete the relevant form. Paying your contribution, if applicable, is your responsibility and you must pay this directly to the Council via an invoice that will be sent out to you monthly.

Self Directed Support: Eligibility and Contributions

Personal budgets will vary from person to person due to different needs, circumstances and preferred outcomes. Your personal budget will also be reviewed annually.

You can get independent information and advice around Self Directed Support at any time by contacting our advice service providers. Self Directed Support: Getting Help with Decisions