New Levels of Support
Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living is gearing up to pitch for business in the brave new world of Self Directed Support, even though they have not even been asked to change, at this stage.
The organisation, which specialises in helping disabled people who want to take more control over the support they receive, is currently funded by a block grant from Glasgow City Council.
Donald Anderson and Maureen McPeak (front) with other members of the Gcil team (back)
But they have already worked out their USPs or Unique Selling Points and are excited about the prospect of pitching their services to individuals rather than councils.
Maureen McPeak GCIL’s Inclusive Living Service Manager said: “We envisage a situation where people may have a set amount within their personal budgets to purchase support and that we will be out there competing with other organisations to provide that support.”
Her colleague Donald Anderson, an Inclusive Living Advisor said: “The challenge for us, like all other providers, will be to market ourselves to individuals rather than negotiate with the council to provide block services.
“We are starting to think about that situation and the services we can offer like an enhanced payroll and a financial management service to help budget holders account for what they spend.”
Maureen added: “We hope that people will value the fact that we are a user-led organisation, because we believe that is one of our unique selling points.
“Any of our service users can join our organisation for £1 and potentially be appointed to the Board and make policy.
“Our other unique selling point is that we already advise 230 people who receive direct payments or Independent Living Fund Monies to fund their support, as well as advising two or three of the first people on Self Directed Support.”
Maureen said: “We are now looking at how we can help individual budget holders get better value for what they spend, by recommending cost effective providers of services like ironing, cleaning, and even suppliers of ready cooked meals.”
GCIL believes that many service users will find Self Directed Support gives them more control of their lives.
Maureen added: “Basically people don’t want to be institutionalised in their own home which can happen with traditional forms of home care that do not offer choice and flexibility.
“I worked for social work some years ago and at that time I worried that we were creating dependency among those we were trying to support.
“If you bring someone in to sit in a day centre all day it can de-skill them because everything, including their meals, are provided for them.
“I used to wonder why people would sit in the day centre playing bingo for a packet of biscuits when they could perfectly well be playing for thousands of pounds in the bingo hall across the road. Perhaps all they needed was someone to help them to get there?
“Some disabled people or their families may still feel there is a need for day centre services and maybe providers will continue to offer this service if it proves to be something people would purchase from their individual budget. It really comes down to personal choice”.
“Part of our role is to get out there and spread the word, to make people aware that with appropriate support they can have one or more personal assistants or purchase flexible services to help them achieve the things they really want to do.
“I believe that when people fully understand Self Directed Support the majority of those who need support will opt for their own budgets because they want flexibility and control of their own lives.
