Print This Page
Self directed support
Newcastle City Council has introduced a new way of providing adult social care to people in the city. This new way of working is called self directed support. The aim of self directed support is to put people who need social care and support services in control of their lives and of the services that they receive.
Self directed support is for adults who need social care and support services. It is the process by which you have choice and control over the support that you need to go about your daily life.
Before you can receive this support you will need to have an assessment to identify your social care needs. You can read more about this in our section on Social Services assessments: care.
If you are eligible, a Support Needs Questionnaire will be completed to help to understand your needs and to work out how much money you might receive to spend on your support.
You will then need to have a financial assessment. This will look at how much money you have and will be used to work out if you need to make a contribution towards the cost of your care.
You will then be told how much your Personal Budget might be. If you need to make a contribution to this budget, you'll be told about that as well.
Once you know how much your Personal Budget might be, you will need to make a Support Plan. This is a document that describes the support you think you need to meet your social care needs. Your support plan should also explain how you will manage your money to do this. The support plan will then need to be agreed by Newcastle City Council before you are given access to the money.
For further information, visit the Newcastle City Council website.
Other useful information
Age UK’s factsheet Self-directed support: direct payments and personal budgets
Article last updated January 27, 2012 8:50 pm
