Payment problems hit personal budget plan

PAYMENT problems and hitches with Oldham Council’s financial management system have hit the new In Control personal budgets for social services clients.

But overall Oldham is at the forefront of the Government’s plans to get all local councils using In Control.

Oldham is a pilot area for the In Control budget and has been leading the country in introducing the new system, a report to councillors will say on Thursday.

But the report by Bev Maybury, head of modernisation for adult and community services, to the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee says that there have been problems with under and overpayments, and difficulties making payments to building societies.

There were also delays in getting bills out to people who had received payments, and they are now being invoiced every two weeks.

She added: “It needs to be noted that this has produced increased numbers of complaints and has been extremely time consuming.”

In Control gives social services clients a budget instead of organised day care, so they can use the money to buy care as they see fit.

Examples include wheelchair-bound people who pay for help to take them out shopping or to social events.

Over 2,000 social care clients are joining the In Control process scheme — 827 have their individual budgets in place and 688 have had their amounts agreed.

A risk panel meets every week and can make home visits to check on the progress of the budget plans.

The select committee will hear that the panel also gets support from the team which protects vulnerable adults, including a police officer.

The regular six-monthly update highlights how the panel investigated when a 96-year-old wanted to employ her daughter-in-law as she was unhappy with the number of agency care staff going to her home to deliver personal care.

The application was approved when the panel decided it was in her best interests, and was not a result of coercion by the family.