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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Please see below questions we are asked on a regular basis - if you have anything to add, please feel free to contact us and we will be happy to put it on our website:
Question
Could Essex County Council please advise the group what they consider would be an acceptable time to wait for an Occupational Therapy assessment?
A member raised this issue, which was subsequently found to be of concern to others who have had similar experiences of waiting for long periods of time before their assessment.
Please could the council give guidelines on the length of time they should be prepared to wait for:
1. An Initial Assessment
2. Revised assessments, to take into account changes to circumstances, such as deterioration in impairment, requiring new or different equipment.
1. An Initial Assessment
2. Revised assessments, to take into account changes to circumstances, such as deterioration in impairment, requiring new or different equipment.
Answer
Reply from Pauline Holroyd:
There is no acceptable time to wait for an OT Assessment and every effort is made to keep any delays to the minimum but there has always been a high demand for OT assessment and delays do occur. Where circumstances change the CAT team or Social Care Direct will always review the risk and bring forward an assessment.
Initial assessments should be completed within 28 days and these cases are measured as a key performance indicator. Recent major change in the service has resulted in a lower percentage of cases being completed within this timeframe but we are working to improve our performance.
Annual reviews are conducted on major items of equipment only and where other equipment is issued there is no annual review. Where there is a change of circumstances requiring new or different equipment this will normally require a new referral through Social Care Direct. Some changes of circumstance are identified at the annual review of a care package or DP/PB and these would be reassessed by the facilitator or practitioner with the necessary skills or referred to an OT for assessment.
Question
What is the difference between having a Direct Payment (DP) or a Personal Budget (PB)?
Answer
Direct Payments are primarily designed to pay for personal care services and are worked out on the basis of the number of hours of care to be provided multiplied by the hourly rate allowed for this work by the Authority.
Personal Budgets are more flexible. They are not based on hours of care but on the outcomes set out in the support plan. The amount of money a person receives is worked out using a resource allocation system (RAS) that uses a supported self assessment questionnaire to determine how much money an individual is likely to require to meet their support needs.
Question
When will users be able to transfer from a DP to a PB?
Answer
We are currently working on this. It is very important that we get this right and we will only move existing people once we are clear we can do it smoothly. We will keep you informed about this.
Question
Can I stay on a DP?
Answer
We have always said that no one will be forced to take a Personal Budget. No one will be disadvantaged if they opt to stay on a DP. We hope that many people will opt to move from a DP to a Personal Budget as we want people to take advantage of the benefit that flexibility brings.
Question
Could it please be explained what is needed in a support plan?
Answer
Support plans do not have to be long and complicated but must contain a few basic things. They need to:
Explain how your support needs will be met within your Personal Budget
Explain how the money will be spent
Explain how this will help you
Explain what you will do if things go wrong
Explain how this will be reviewed
We ask you to write your support plan in terms of outcomes because as well as meeting your immediate needs, support plans are also about how you will achieve longer term aims, such as going to college, getting back to work, or being able to spend more time together as a family. This is why you are asked to identify the outcomes you want to achieve.
So, unlike a care plan which is only about meeting your immediate care needs, a support plan should be designed to help you move forward with your life.
You will also need to set aside a certain amount of your personal budget to cover contingencies. This is for unplanned changes in your situation such as a short term increase in your care needs.
If you do not want to set aside some of your Personal Budget you will need to explain how you would meet an increase in your needs and stay within your budget.
We will not approve support plans that do not have this contingency.
Question
Could we have clarification of the rules concerning employment of family members?
Answer
The rules have not changed. They apply to both DPs and Personal Budgets. Employment of close family members who live with you, is not normally allowed. However we do know there are circumstances where this is the best option and in those cases we may agree to you doing so. If you think this applies to you, please tell us what you want to do and why, so we can talk it through with you BEFORE you make any arrangements.
If we have agreed to you using your existing DP to employ a close family member you will be able to continue to do so if you transfer to a Personal Budget.
This does not mean that in the future we will not look these arrangements as part of your review just as we do now.
This does not mean that you can not get help from a close relative in an emergency.
Question
My needs have increased, but you have not increased my hours of care. Why?
Answer
If your needs have changed we will undertake a review to establish whether you need an increase in your DP or Personal Budget. It is not always the case that a change in needs requires an increase in provision. The decision is always made on a case by case basis. We will always discuss our reasoning with you.
