Journeying towards personalisation. From pilot to implementation: The learning and experiences of introducing self-directed support in Cambridgeshire

Abstract

AbstractIn her role as Community Development Manager, Lyn Jenkins played a key role in the introduction and implementation of self-directed support and personal budgets in Cambridgeshire. This paper details Lyn's learning and experiences around self-directed support, from a pilot programme for a handful of individuals with a learning disability to implementation across the whole of Cambridgeshire's Adult Support Services. It looks at the lessons learnt from the pilot, the impact of personal budgets for individuals and families, the development of a resource allocation system (RAS) for each of the service areas, the challenges faced by the social care workforce as the changes were implemented, the training delivered to help them with their changing job roles, and the part played by individuals, family carers, service providers, voluntary organisations and statutory partners in the design and implementation of self-directed support in Cambridgeshire. In conclusion, the paper looks at where Cambridgeshire is...