The UK government recently ran an Individual Budgets Pilot Programme. As part of the programme, the Department of Health put together a DVD called Individual Budgets: Living your life your way. The DVD featured people involved in the pilot, their carers and others, talking about how using their budget to choose and buy their own services has improved their lives.
You can watch the individual case study clips below, or view a full online version of the DVD.
Angela is 92 and still loves teaching. She uses her individual budget to pay for evening support to supplement the day support she funds privately.
Bob uses his individual budget to pay for support for both his personal needs and his work and voluntary commitments.
Cindy is a mother to young children. She is registered blind and uses her individual budget to hire a personal assistant who supports her in her role as a parent.
Coleen uses her individual budget to hire personal assistants so she can live independently in her own home and access community activities.
Cyril supported his wife Beryl until his eyesight failed. Beryl now has personal support from an assistant and Cyril’s own personal assistant supports him in his activities.
Dawn's individual budget is partly managed by her council and partly by Dawn herself.
Elsie has reduced mobility through a recent illness. While she waits for a stair lift to be installed at home, she uses a small individual budget for a weekly bath at a day centre.
Evangelos has written a plan for his individual budget prioritising getting out of his flat and socialising – things he hasn’t been able to do because of illness.
Florence uses her individual budget to employ her granddaughter and other family members for flexible support.
Frank is 92 and says he has a wonderful life. He uses his individual budget to employ personal assistants to help him to continue living at home.
Geoffrey uses his individual budget to stay mentally active and spend quality time with his wife.
George uses his small individual budget to pay for activities which help him stay well, rather than using traditional mental health services.
James uses his individual budget to keep healthy and active and reduce his use of traditional mental health services.
Julia uses her individual budget to adapt her home and to hire a personal assistant who provides support for her as a parent and during her work commitments.
Kate lives independently and uses her individual budget to employ a neighbour for support to manage her home and enjoy her active life.
Safeena has moved from children’s to adult social care. Her father, Mr Hussain, is planning to use her individual budget to meet her high support needs.
Hazel - a carer's perspective
Debbie - a social care worker's perspective
Individual Budgets: Living your life your way - watch the full movie here
For further information about the pilot and individual budgets in general, visit the following websites:
Department of Health
In Control
CSIP