Personalisation for people with a learning disability and their families

Personalisation is the key change that will affect the way support for people with a learning disability, their families and carers is delivered and funded. 

All 152 local authorities in England are currently working towards government targets for personalised support. The aim is for 30% of people receiving social care funding to have an individual budget by 2011, and 80% by 2015.

While some local authorities are leading the way with personalisation, others are waiting to watch other models develop first. This means that while some local authorities may already have offered families an individual budget, others may not yet be talking about them.

If your local authority is starting to personalise support, then you will be asked to take part in an assessment and planning process. This may include a self assessment. It will look at what matters to you in your life and what type of support you need.

The local authority will then work out how much money to allocate to you using a Resource Allocation System (RAS). Once you know the amount, you can choose to receive the money as a direct payment or to have the local authority or another care provider look after it for you. You can also choose a combination of these two options.

If you are happy with your current support you can choose to spend the money on that, or you can make changes and do new things. However, you have to spend the money on the things you have agreed in your plan with the local authority.