Appendix 2
Warwickshire County Council , Social Care and Support ,Independent Living Team
Making it Real : Personal Budgets/ Direct Payments Action Plan
Introduction
Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) is the sector wide commitment to transform adult social care through personalisation and
community-based support. On the 17.7.14 Warwickshire County Council made a declaration to commit to deliver and transform
Social Care and Support using the Making It Real markers of progress.
This means we have

declared a commitment to use the Making It Real markers,
and we have agreed to

Publicly share actions that we will be taking to make progress towards achieving them.

Co-produce action plans with people who use services based on three priorities of change.
It was agreed an initial action plan would be co-produced with people who were receiving or may be considering receiving direct
payments.
What is Making It Real?
Making it Real sets out what people who use services and carers expect to see and experience if support services are truly
personalised. They use a set of progress markers written in co-production by people who use services and their families. This can
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help organisations to mark how well they are progressing with transforming what they do. The aim of Making It Real is for people to
have more choice and control so they can live a full and independent life.
How is Making It Real Measured?
The markers of progress are 26 ‘I ‘statements which measure
6 key areas:
 Information and Advice: Having the information I need, when I need it.
 Active and supportive communities: Keeping friends, family and place
 Flexible integrated care and support: My support my own way
 Workforce: My support staff
 Risk enablement: Feeling in control and safe
 Personal budgets and self-funding: My money
Co-production conversation cafes’ with the Making It Real Task groups were undertaken during September and October 2014.
During these workshops we explored and measured the ‘I’ statements to identify and agree 3 priorities for the personal
budget/direct payments work stream.
Over the next 12 months will be working towards the priorities outlined in the action plan which will focus on the initial feedback,
local accounts and research undertaken with people who use direct payments, including people who receive monies from the
Independent Living Fund.
A mid- way review will be undertaken by the Making It Real Co-production group using the ‘I’ statements. The progress will be
reviewed and new actions introduced where measures reflect any change in direction. Actions may be added as outcomes are
completed and new priorities are agreed.
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Background information:
Owner of the Action Plan: Making It Real task group
Who was involved in agreeing the three priorities and action plan?
Direct Payments Peer Support Network
Making It Real task group
Direct Payment support services
Practitioners from Social Care and Support operational teams
Independent Living Team
Commissioning – Market Management and customer engagement team
What date was the board level declaration agreed: 17.7.14
Start date for action plan: 1.12.14
Review date for action plan: 31.3.15
Lead contact for this action plan: Lesley Kendall (Making It Real Coordinator)
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Priority 1:
Description of the priority:
Making It Real: Information and Advice: Having access to consistent direct payment information I need, when I need it and
in a format suitable to me.
Direct Payment’s information and advice
 To streamline and centralise access to direct payment’s where possible.
 To ensure all direct payment s information is fit for purpose and Care Act compliant.
 To develop an e learning programme.
 To increase direct payments learning and development capacity and broaden the audience.
 To develop other options for peer support such a social media to provide updates.
 To raise the profile of the independent Living Team.
 To support direct payment customers to become peer reviewers.
 Ensure customers in receipt of monies from the Independent Living Fund are fully informed throughout the transfer process.
What steps we will take to make this
happen?

Review Direct Payments information
and advice
 Increase peer support opportunities
such as access to Facebook, Twitter,
website to keep customers update re
direct payment change
 Develop a streamlined process for
direct payments into one place
 Develop e- learning
ProgrammeAwareness Workshops
for dementia navigators
 Self-employed guidance developed.
 DP support services sign up MIR
Lead
contact
Outcome
Customer/carer
involvement
Reviewed
Lesley
Kendall
ILT team
ILF
transfer
officer
I can access up to date
information in a format suitable to
me.
I am well Informed and can talk
to others like me.
Clear where to signpost people
for DP advice and information.
I know who to contact.
The process is simple.
I can talk to other direct payment
users.
I know how I can use my direct
payment.
Local Accounts
Direct Payment peer
support network
Making It Real task
group
Support Service
questionnaire
March
2015
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Priority 2 :
 Description of the priority:
Making It Real Workforce: Direct Payments my support staff
To develop access to learning and development opportunities for personal assistants
To increase personal assistant capacity
To support access to Skills for Care funding
To develop a suite of learning and development opportunities for personal assistants
To support direct payment employers with access to small employer development opportunities
What steps you will take to make this
happen?
Lead
contact


Alison
Atkinson
Lesley
Kendall
ILT
officers








Direct Payment employer workshop
Support service’s to register with
Making It Real
Raise the profile of Skills for Care
opportunities such as funding streams
Develop a menu of learning and
development for personal assistants.
Explore how to increase personal
assistant capacity especially in rural
areas/ PA registers / promotion
Produce a ‘What is a PA ‘ factsheet
Market Facilitation presentation at
employer and PA events.
Share access to PA Peer support
Attend Provider forum’s to introduce the
concept of them opening up training to
personal assistants
Work alongside the support
organisations to align guidance and
Outcome
If my staff are trained it will raise
the quality of support I receive.
I will find it easier to find a
personal assistant
I can send my personal assistant
on training.
I can find training for them.
My personal assistant feels
supported and valued.
I am a good employer.
I am an informed direct payment
employer.
I can access consistent up to
date information.
I can find providers who support
and understand direct payments.
My personal assistant has job
satisfaction.
Staff are trained and keep me
safe.
I know where to go to get advice
Customer/carer
involvement
Reviewed
Local Accounts
Direct Payment peer
support network
Making It Real task
group
Support Service
questionnaire
March
2015
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practice.
and support.
I am confident with the advice
that is given.
I can talk to other people who
have a direct payment.
The people I talk to know what
direct payments are.
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Priority 3:
Description of the priority: Personal Budget’s : My Money
Access to a range of options
 Al menu of choice for personal budgets
 Creative outcomes using new technology
 More cost effective options
 Explore models of support planning for direct payments
 Explore models for Direct payment support service ‘s
What steps you will take to make this
Leads t
Outcome
happen?
Edward
There are a range of options
 Service Funds information
Roberts
available to me to help me
factsheet and guidance
Alison
manage my personal budget.
 Explore assistive technology and
Atkinson
There are options if i don’t
tele care options for direct
Lesley
want to receive a direct
payments
Kendall
payment.
 Pilot Support planning and
There is support available to
brokerage away from assessments Kay
 Market development of choices for Winterburn me when using direct
payments.
direct payments support services
I am supported to make the
 Develop access to Individual
choices during support
Service Funds
planning.
 Review Personal Budget guidance
My ideas are supported to
 Explore money management
meet agreed outcomes with
options such as payment cards
the money available to me.
 Develop an Individual available.
Customers/carer
involvement
Customer/carer
involvement
Local Accounts
Direct Payment peer
support network
Making It Real task
group
Support Service
questionnaire
Review
March
2015
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I am confident with the direct
payment support available to
me.
I am a good employer
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