You can then decide how you wish to meet your needs through 4 options:
- Option 1: A direct payment that you can use to organise and pay for your own support
- Option 2: We can make the arrangements for the support you have chosen and, if it is provided by someone other than us, we will pay the relevant contribution.
- Option 3: We can choose the best support for you, make the arrangements to set it up and if it is provided by someone other than us, will pay the relevant contribution
- Option 4: A combination of the above.
What is an Individual Service Fund?
Every person who has been assessed as being eligible for support will be assigned an individual budget to spend on achieving their identified outcomes. The ISF is paid to a Provider that is contracted by Argyll and Bute Council who will help the Supported Person arrange their social care and support.
An Individual Service Fund (ISF) is one of a number of ways you can use your personal budget to arrange your care and support services in partnership with Argyll & Bute Health and Social Care Partnership. This guide tells you:
- What is option 2
- What ISF are and how they might help you;
- Who can have an ISF;
- Where to go for practical information and help;
- What your allocated worker will do; and
- What you will be expected to do to set up your care using an ISF; What happens if my circumstances change?
- How do I end my ISF?
Option 2: You choose the support provider
Option 2 allows you to direct Argyll and Bute Council to commission (buy) services from a support provider on your behalf.
Under Option 2, you retain control of the budget allocated for your support (often called an Individual Service Fund or ISF) but you may have less influence over the people delivering the support or the times that they can support you.
You can choose to have the support provider hold your “individual budget” on your behalf or the Council can pay the provider directly on your behalf.
Your individual service fund means you retain control over how your individual budget is spent and it also makes it easier to change service provider if you are unhappy with the service you are receiving.
Care and service providers operating in Scotland are regulated by the Care Inspectorate and they offer a useful guide on using and choosing services.
Assessment
You will be asked to participate in an assessment to identify your needs and outcomes. This is recorded on documents called Universal Adult Assessment / Universal Childs Assessment and a Support Plan that you will both sign to say you agree with what has been written about you.
How is an ISF different to arranged services or Direct Payments?
An ISF enables you to have more control over the support you receive without having to manage your personal budget through a Direct Payment. The benefits of an ISF are that you are not the employer. It gives you more control over the support you receive, for example, if you have a condition that fluctuates you can plan and save some support to use flexibly when best suits you through close working with your provider.
Where can I go for information and practical help?
Your allocated worker. Your allocated worker may then signpost you to the Self-directed Support Officer or an independent third sector organisation.
Allocated Worker
Your allocated worker might be your social worker, occupational therapist or care coordinator. This person will carry out the initial assessment and will discuss different options with you. They will then review this at least once year but you can contact them if:
- Your needs or circumstances change;
- You want to make changes to how you spend your personal budget; and
- You need advice on any other matter.
What will I have to do?
To obtain an ISF you will firstly need to select this as the most appropriate option for the delivery of your care through your allocated worker.
Once you have selected your chosen provider you should inform your allocated worker who will then arrange for you and the provider to meet together to discuss how they will meet your outcomes and draw up a personal plan. The plan will describe:
- Your care needs identified in your assessment;
- Which care needs and outcomes will be met by the ISF;
- How those care needs and outcomes will be met;
- Contingency planning arrangements to cover emergencies.
What happens if my circumstances change?
Your allocated worker should review your assessment at least annually. This will provide you with a regular check on how well your arrangements are meeting your needs. However, if at any time, you feel your circumstances have changed; you should contact your allocated worker to request another assessment.
You may find that your needs have changed and the ISF is no longer adequate to meet your needs or that you are spending less than you expected. In these circumstances, you should contact your allocated worker.
Although your allocated worker will retain responsibility to ensure that your assessed outcomes are met, ISFs do give you more flexibility and control over the services you can access. You should make sure that your plans enable you to meet your outcomes and control your services as far as is possible. For example, you should have contingency arrangements in place and agreed with your chosen provider.
How do I end my ISF?
Four weeks’ notice is required to end an ISF. Your assessment will then be reviewed to make sure that your outcomes will still be met by any alternative arrangements that are put in place.
