As well as this, the team now assist people through all stages of Camden’s Better Care Choices programme including Supported Self Assessment forms, drawing up Support Plans and helping to locate, organise and purchase services.
In addition, our team offers support to local voluntary sector organisations who wish to help their own clients through the process.
If you have any queries that are not answered below, please contact us on the number provided.
Better Care Choices
Better care choices was introduced to focus on your needs and to give you the power to decide on the type of services that you require. Your support and care needs are assessed, and a plan is designed to allow you to choose your own service.
Am I entitled to a Service under BCC?
If you already receive a care package from Camden Adult Social Services then you can contact your social worker / care team and enquire. If you are not currently receiving a care package, but feel you may be entitled to one, contact Social Services and ask for an assessment.
Supported Self Assessment
Supported Self Assessment (SSA) is a means of allowing you to express your own view of your well-being and care needs. This takes the form of a questionnaire.
Can I get help with it?
Yes, you can get help to fill out the SSA form. You can get assistance from DISC, your care manager or someone you know.
What happens once I fill it in?
After you complete the SSA, you discuss your answers with your social worker and they fill in their own view of your needs. After this a calculation is made and an amount of money will be decided to be allocated to you every month.
What happens next?
Next you will have to do a Support Plan. You should also be contacted by the Awards and Contributions team from Camden to do a financial assessment to see if you need to contribute anything to your care.
Support Plan
A support plan shows how you plan to put in place the services you need.
Can I get help with it?
Yes, you can get help to write this up if you want. You can get assistance from someone you know, your care manager or request someone from DISC.
What sort of help can I get?
You can get help with writing up your support plan, locating services in your area. You can also get assistance in drawing up a budget to meet those needs.
Brokerage
A brokerage service will help you to locate a service that you may wish to purchase. They can also negotiate the price of the service and then draw up a budget for you with the money that you are allocated from Camden. They may also be able to find free services in the area that you may like to use.
Does this mean that I'll be given the money myself?
You can choose for Social Services to get the money and arrange the services you want. Or you can choose to receive the money yourself as a Direct Payment.
What can I purchase?
If you choose to receive the money yourself you can use the money to attend day time activities, therapeutic classes, to get to and from activities, to hire someone to help you in your house or to purchase care related equipment where Social Services deem it appropriate.
Direct Payments
If you want a service that you are more in control of.
If you want a service that better suits your needs.
If you want to choose your own worker.
If you want to choose the times that your worker comes at.
If you want them to do the jobs that you want them to do.
If you would prefer to sort out a problem yourself instead of going through social services.
Recruitment
What if I want home care?
If you want to employ someone to come to your home then you can either hire from a care agency or else you can self employ someone.
Where can I find out about an agency?
DISC have a database of agencies in the area and can provide you with a list of agencies to suit your needs.
Can I get help with recruiting if I want to employ someone myself?
Yes, DISC can assist you in drawing up and placing an advert to hire someone as well as provide somewhere to interview people and to assist in the interview process.
What do I do if I get a new worker?
You can download new contracts and job descriptions for adults or children depending on your direct payment from the 'Useful documents' section on the right hand side of this page.
Please note that you should alter the contract in the highlighted area to suit your needs. You can also download a P46 for your new worker. This must be then sent to your payroll company.
Responsibilities
What are my responsibilities as an employer?
If you choose to employ your own worker you take on the legal responsibilities of being a good employer. This means having a contract, job description, and insurance for your workers. You must make sure health and safety regulations are met according to employment law. You also have to ensure that your workers are properly registered for tax and national insurance.
Can I get help in carrying out these responsibilities?
Yes, DISC can draw up a contract of employment, job description, apply for employers' insurance as well as sign you up to the payroll.
What are my responsibilities to Camden?
If you decide to receive a Direct Payment instead of a direct service from Camden, you have a responsibility to spend the money on care and services and not in any other way.
Over 65?
If you are over 65 and are interested in any of the issues raised here you should contact Age Concern unless you are a Mental Health Service User, in which case you can contact us on the number above.
The links for Age Concern and Social Services can be found on our Resources page.
Agencies
If you are a care agency, you should complete the questionnaire above and return it to one of the addresses provided on the form. Your agency will then be added to our database and agency list that is then given to our clients.
Pat Stack
Manager
Nancy Magrid
Aoife Price
Najmin Begum