Transforming Adult Social Services

Events

Hundreds visit Marketplace Event

A display at the AMrketplace event More than 300 people went along to the council's Marketplace event for people with care and support needs in the Civic Suite in June.

The event enabled people to find out what they could buy with a personal budget and was an opportunity for providers to showcase what they have to offer, including fitness classes, art activities and employment opportunities.

Shop4Support demonstrated one possible way of managing a personal budget online.

Wayne Auchaybur, from Wandsworth, attended the Marketplace Event saying it was encouraging. He said:

"I have suffered from manic depression for the past 11 years. My key worker told me about Sound Minds, who promotes good mental health through art and I have volunteered there ever since. I now play in three bands. The Marketplace event was eye opening. I am amazed at the huge amount of services available in Wandsworth for different age groups."
Wayne Auchaybur

Stall holders attended presentations throughout the day about how personalisation affects them, while council staff were on hand to answer any questions.

Review: It's About You!

A scence from the play at the Marketplace event Personal budgets offer "choice, control and independence" according to the play performed by adults with physical and learning disabilities from Wandsworth.

"It's About You", performed at The Lost Theatre, walked the audience through the self-directed support process in a light-hearted comical way.

The message was loud and clear - Adult Social Services in the borough is transforming to give people with care needs more control over how they live.

Members of the public were told that instead of a traditional social care package, adults with eligible needs will have control over the money the council spends on them, in the form of personal budgets.

The play focused on the better quality of life that can be achieved with a personal budget. For example, one of the characters employed a support worker that shared the same interests as them, which could improve their communication skills and confidence.

The viewer could visualise how the new approach enabled people to live their lives independently since some of those delivering the messages were already receiving funding themselves.

Act Too, who produced the play, have been helping people with learning disabilities get more from their lives for 10 years. It was touching to see adults with such care needs achieving and integrating in the community.

After the play, the programme manager on the Transformation Team at the Council, Carol Barton, answered questions from members of the public about personal budgets.

Read the answers to these questions.