The term 'personalisation' is still very new but is being used more and more every day.
Some of the following terms are used to describe activities or approaches that can be part of a personalised approach:

• self-directed support
• person-centred planning
• person-centred approaches
• individual budgets
• personal budgets
• direct payments
• citizenship
• independent living
• outcomes
• resource allocation systems
• personal assistant

All of these words are used to explain some of the big changes in social policy that are happening now. These changes collectively are referred to as ‘personalisation'.

Personalisation means starting with the person, not the service available. It recognises that the individual is best placed to know what support they need and how their needs can best be met, and it gives them the opportunity to arrange their own care and support.

While many people will need support to make these decisions, their families,  carers and advocates  can be involved in helping them to decide what might work best and then create a plan that shows how the individuals goals and aspirations (intended outcomes) can be achieved with the help  and support identified as needed.

There are real differences between personalisation and the way things happen at the moment.   In order to receive support through social care departments, the person must meet certain eligibility criteria, and they will then be given access to existing services. This is called FAC’s.

With this “old” system, people are more likely to have to choose from and fit in with the services that already exist rather than creating and shaping services based on what they really want and need.

People needing support assess their own needs and this assessment is translated into an actual amount of money that is paid directly to the individual (or someone on their behalf) - this amount could also include money from other sources such as Supporting People or Disabled Facilities Grants for example and  is allocated to the individual as a budget  for the individual to spend on the support, ensuring that the needs they identified  are met and their intended outcomes achieved.

If you would like to learn more about personalisation here are some useful links:

Social Care Institute of Excellence –Guide to Personalisation (EasyRead version)

Social Care institute of Excellence – Rough Guide to Personalisation (Full Text Version)

Fair Access to Care – Guidance on Adult Social Care Eligibility Criteria