Individual budgets pilot project news/events

This area provides up to date information on project news and events for the Individual Budgets pilot.

January 2008

Local Evaluation

Coventry commissioned Coventry University to work with us on our local evaluation.
An exciting joint project was undertaken to work closely with the service users who were taking part in the Individual Budgets pilot to find out their views and experiences and the difference this new approach was making to their lives. This led to two imaginative and well supported events being held in Coventry.

The first was a service user-led event held on 14th December 2007 at Coventry University.

The second, a professionally focused event, attended by people from across the country who had expressed interest in Coventry's approach to Individual Budgets, was held on 10th March 2008 at the Belgrade Theatre in the centre of Coventry.

To find out more about the local evaluation please click the link.

Individual Budgets Evaluation Network (IBSEN) - Summary of Early Findings July 2007

Between July and November 2006 IBSEN conducted interviews with all 13 Individual Budget sites, to carry out an evaluation exercise on 4 aspects of the the project, which were:

The first phases of implementation;
Training and development;
Costs of setting up IB's;
Early experiences and views from the first IB recipients.

The results in the report should be interpreted as emerging themes rather than a full assessment of the pilot (which runs to spring 2008). For a copy of this summary report please download it at the bottom of this page.

Individual Budgets Project News - March 2007

The project now has two success stories, which can be read, to see how people have gained more independence from taking on an Individual Budget.

Aaron's story has now been highlighted on Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) along with other success stories from around the country. He now lives in his own flat in YMCA supported accommodation and has a supporter living in the flat next door to him to provide him with all the assistance he needs.

Tracy and Michael's story tells of their move from a residential home, to living together in a shared tenancy. They had an outcome-focussed assessment, which provided them with a support plan to move into their new home, with assistance from a specific staff team.

You can download a copy of the stories below
CSIP link for more UK stories: individualbudgets.csip.org.uk/dynamic/dohpage8.jsp

Individual Budgets Pilot - Update February 2007

The Pilot is now halfway through the second year of a 2-year project. Our initial target of having 2 people on board with an Individual Budget by June 2006 was successfully met, and we are now well on the way to meeting our final target of having 40 people using one by June 2007.

Note: Picture depicts Aaron who has benefitted from an Individual Budget and now has his own flat and has become much more independent.

Local Evaluation Exercise

We have been capturing the experiences of people who have gone through the Individual Budget process by completing a local evaluation exercise. This will help us to better understand what it means to people and how we can improve it. We hope to be able to publish these results towards the end of the year, and also have a conference, which will be based around real stories and experiences of individuals, to tell people about what we feel we have learned.

Training

Almost all assessment staff in Learning Disability Services, Physical and Sensory Impairment Services and Mental Health Services have been trained to deliver 'Outcomes Focussed Assessments and Support Plans'.

This is the new framework, which will allow us to deliver Individual Budgets. Although not fully evaluated yet, early feedback from service users and carers implies that they find the Outcomes Framework more relevant to them, as it helps to build a clear picture of their goals and how they can be supported to achieve these.

Bringing Together Funding Streams

Good progress has been made in bringing together the different funding streams that can be included in an Individual Budget.

Housing related support and minor equipment can be included in the main assessment, and we are hoping to do the same with the Independent Living Fund.
The Housing Grants Team have made it possible for grants for major housing adaptations (known as a Disabled Facilities Grant or DFG), to be included in an Individual Budget.
Access to Work funding still has to be applied for separately, but we have trained Social Workers and Access to Work staff so they understand each others roles better, which will hopefully lead to more people being supported into work.

The final six months

The last six months of the project (July – December) covers the evaluation phase, when our research partners from the University of York will continue to work closely with Coventry and those who have gone on to Individual Budgets, to see what difference the new ways of working have made to them. Some people will still be offered an Individual Budgets in this last 6 months, but these will not be included in University's official evaluation.

Useful link

For more information on the Individual Budgets Pilot please call or e-mail Barbara Ashby, Individual Budgets Project Administrator or continue to visit these pages for up-to-date information.

Contact details:

Barbara Ashby
Individual Budgets Project Administrator
Room 152
Civic Centre 1
Little Park Street
Coventry CV1 5RS

Tel. 024 7683 4110
e-mail: individualbudgetspilot@coventry.gov.uk

Downloadable documents

About PDFs and Accessibility

Coventry City Council

Individual Budgets Pilot - news and events