in control first phase report 2003-2005

323. Agree PlanOnce a person has completed their support plan they will need to checkwhether the social services department agrees with it. Funding will only bereceived if it is clear that the person, or someone else on their behalf, canmanage the money effectively and in a way which makes the person’s lifebetter.Self-Directed Support should not leave anyone worse off, in dire need, orsubject to abuse. So it is important that social services departments sign offsupport plans. in Control recommends the following measures of a goodsupport plan.In summary, a support plan should be:FIGURE 12Person-centredClearPracticalSafeSelf-determinedManagedIn budgetIt must suit the person and fit their preferred lifestyle.The person must set clear and meaningful outcomes to achieve.The person should know how they will achieve these outcomes.The person should make sure they and others are not put unnecessarilyat risk.The person should be in as much control of decisions as possible.There should be clear systems of management and responsibility.The person must not spend more than the agreed amount.In practice, in Control has found that the quality of support-planning ledby disabled people, their family or friends is often very high because it isbased on real and detailed knowledge of the person and their community– knowledge that may not be available to a professional handling many differentcases.At this stage there is a significant question for the local authority: howcan the authority be confident that disabled people – especially those withcognitive impairments – understand and can take responsibility for theirown plans? in Control has responded by providing a policy framework forsupported decision-making and demonstrated how the use of an agent couldensure that Self-Directed Support can work for everyone, regardless of theircognitive capacity. Agency is explored further in the next chapter.A report on in Control’s first phase 2003-2005