A new set of papers from In Control challenging all those leading integration work across public services to maintain and increase the central focus on people and their communities. It’s all too easy when faced with structural change and transformation of culture to focus on system and process; we know though that this will only bred complexity and bureaucracy. These papers stand back from the surge to build new systems and explain a focus around…

Gavin Croft and Karen Saville talk about their ordinary life and personal health budgets Gavin.   Karen attended a Heathwatch event in St Helens and talked about their experiences of keeping their lives ordinary and not system led. Watch here:   Gavin Croft and Karen Saville Croft Talk about Their Experiences Part 1   Gavin Croft and Karen Saville Croft Talk about Their Experiences Part 2   Julie Stansfield CEO for In Control also talked…

In Control, Lancaster University and Think Local Act Personal have published the findings of the third Personal Outcomes Evaluation Tool (POET) of over 500 personal health budget holders and carers.   The purpose of the POET survey 2015 for Personal Health Budget Holders and Family Carers is to provide insight into the experiences of personal health budget holders and their families. The survey also shows the impact having control over the budget has on their…

How are local authorities performing? The Independent Living Strategy Group conducted two pieces of research and analysis to explore the degree to which local authorities are following the spirit and letter of the Care Act and its statutory guidance in seeking to optimize choice and control. Despite emphasis on wellbeing, choice and control within the Care Act, the survey found near half of respondents felt their quality of life had reduced and 30% experienced a…

If you are a parent or carer of a child who has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), or a child or young person who has an EHCP, then we would like to know how the process was for you.   Watch an introduction to the POET:     The Personal Outcomes Evaluation Tool (POET) has been designed to capture the views of children and young people, parents/carers and practitioners about the experience of…

In Control have co-produced new practical guides and information about using personal health budgets for children and young people for health services and their partners   We are pleased to launch four new publications about some of the particular challenges around introducing and using personal health budgets:   Personal health budgets and children’s equipment – David Widdas and Bernadette Simpson   Personal health budgets and delegation of responsibilities – Bernadette Simpson and David Widdas  …

The young person’s guide to personal budgets gets an honourable mention in a blog post by James Sanderson, the Director of Personalisation & Choice at NHS England.   “Delivering a universal culture of personalisation and choice in the NHS will only be achieved if we work together across commissioning organisations, provider trusts, the voluntary and community sector and with people themselves. We need strength in numbers to lead the charge towards patient empowerment.”   Read…

As we look forward to 2016, it’s helpful to reflect on the past 12 months… Back in the spring, In Control published a report with Lancaster University using the Personal Outcome Evaluation Tool (POET) to measure the impact of Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The full approach, questionnaires and findings set out an interesting picture of work to introduce the new EHCPs across 18 different…