Micro revolution for care services

COUNCILLOR Brian Lord . . . “It has enabled people to become totally in charge of how they manage their own care. They can arrange to do what they want when they want so that it fits their lifestyle’

Pilot project targets disabled

SMALL services which help people with disabilities enjoy a better quality of life are being supported by a new Oldham Council pilot project.

The authority is one of only two in the country testing the new system, which is sponsored by the Department of Health.

It is aimed at people on Individualised Budgets, which allow people with disabilities to manage their own care. Nearly 3,000 local people have been managing their own care since 2005.

The council says there is now more of a demand for smaller, tailor-made services that people can buy, such as better leisure opportunities, supported lodging, personal development, payroll services, shopping, cleaning and transport.

To help the small and “micro” care organisations that provide these services — which usually employ a very small number of staff — the council is working with the charity NAAPS, formerly the National Association of Adult Placement Schemes.

Innovative

By seconding a member of staff to NAAPS, 41 local services from the more traditional such as shopping, cleaning and supported housing services to more innovative areas such as yoga classes, drama, art and holistic therapies, are being provided.

Councillor Brian Lord, cabinet member for adult services and health, said: “For many people the introduction of individual budgets has been a revolutionary step and enabled them to become totally in charge of how they manage their own care. They can arrange to do what they want when they want so that it fits their lifestyle and not the convenience of whoever is providing the service, as used to be the case.

“To enable people to get the absolute best range of options possible it is important that the council does what it can to encourage these small and micro social care enterprises.”

Councillor Lord added: “Through this pilot scheme Oldham is now very much leading the way nationally in showing what can be done and actually what has to be done in order for this to happen.

“The rest of the country is looking at Oldham as one of the leaders in this field and a lot of the work that has happened here will feature highly in the Department of Health’s best practice guide.”

Any person or enterprise that wants more information on the support offered by Oldham Council should contact Helen Allen on 0161-770 1454 or e-mail helen.allen@oldham.gov.uk.