 Support BrokersA Support Brokers' role is in helping people plan and organise any support they need to be independent.
A Support Broker is normally someone who acts independently of a Local Authority. They are employed by Service Users in reciept of their own care budget under a self directed funding scheme such as "In Control".
Support Brokers ensure that the service user is fully involved, and in control throughout the process of choosing a care package and its delivery. They also ensure that any agreed services are value for money.
What does a Support Broker do? |
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A Support Broker will work on the client's behalf to provide help with any or all of the following:
- Accessing an assessment of their care needs
- Helping in the support planning process
- Putting together a support plan that fits the person’s needs
- Negotiating and managing the person’s Individual Budget on their behalf to pay for services, or organising support to do so
- Monitoring and evaluating the services that the person receives
- Building personal networks and/or helping the person to do so
- Mediating and solving any issues that arise
- Helping and advising the service user for as long as the person uses care services, or wishes to be supported
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Who can be a Support Broker? |
A broker does not necessarily have to coordinate all of the support a person needs, but only the aspects the person says that they need support with. The support broker can be a member of the person’s family, one of their friends, a neighbour, a worker for a voluntary and community organisation, basically anyone that the client wants to be supported by.
Many Service Users choose an independent professional support broker to take on this role. |
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