Demand now outstrips supply

Clenton Farquharson MBE, Chair, Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) @clentonF

I was disappointed to see in The King’s Fund’s recent Social Care 360 report that direct payment numbers have continued falling. Does this mean that personalisation is stalling?

I think the answer to that question is yes.

Whilst direct payments are not a single indicator of personalisation (they aren’t right for everyone), I see no evidence of a natural ceiling being reached. Too many councils make it too hard for people to take and manage a direct payment which suppresses demand. Even the numbers don’t tell the full story, as we know that some councils with respectable figures constrain how budgets are used.

It is also the case that receiving good, personalised care and support shouldn’t be dependent on taking a direct payment; it should be the default for all. Individual Service Funds (ISFs) are a proven alternative when a person doesn’t want to take full control of their budget. The council delegates the budget to a provider who works with the person to tailor their support.

As a recent example, Bexley Council, with support from