Liverpool gets personal with care...

CONSULTATION is getting underway on a radical £6 million scheme to improve social care in Liverpool.  The city council has received the funding for ‘Personalisation’, a fundamental shift in the way it and partners such as the Primary Care Trust (PCT) provide support to those who need assistance in their everyday life.

The aim is to give people who receive services such as home and day care choice and control, rather than having services imposed.  It will mean as many people as possible will be given their own budget for social care. They will be able to spend it as they wish, as long as it improves their quality of life and helps them achieve their ambitions. It will also give them the opportunity to take part in paid employment or volunteering.

Councillor Ron Gould, executive member for health, care and safeguarding, said:- “This is the biggest change in social care in a generation, and has massive implications for everyone who receives care.  Instead of providing care for groups of people, we are going to focus on the specific needs of individuals.  It is absolutely vital that we get it right, and that is why we are starting a month long conversation with all of those affected – ranging from health and social care staff through to care providers, carers and the people who receive services.

Personalisation will give people much more flexibility and control, but it is crucial that we give them the necessary support and assistance so that they understand it.  We have already had tremendous success in giving people more choice in day services, such as supporting a drama group and gardening courses, and the aim is to replicate these achievements across social care.  While we will still retain day centres, we want to give people the opportunity to do the things they want to, rather than dictating to them.”

Everybody who receives services will have their own individually tailored “person centred plan” which will detail their needs and what they want from their lives both now and in the future. When this is complete, the aim is to work with them, their family, friends and professionals to deliver what they want.  An example could include someone who currently attends a day centre but doesn’t enjoy the activities using their budget to employ a carer who accompanies them to things they want to do such as swimming, visiting the cinema or going to a football match. Or it could mean someone with sight difficulties using their budget to buy a talking microwave rather than having meals on wheels.

Joe Blott, Liverpool’s Assistant Executive Director for Adult Social Care, said:- “Personalisation will mean a fundamental shift in the way we deliver services, and puts people who receive them in control.  Naturally, any change can lead to anxiety and upset, and that is why we are extremely keen to make sure we keep people informed every step of the way.

For some people, personalisation will not be suitable, but for others it presents a massive opportunity to improve their quality of life and do the things which they really enjoy rather than us telling them what they can do.  An integral part of personalisation will be an increased level of safeguarding, to make sure people who are protected from harm at the same time as getting greater freedom.”

The council has agreed a target with the government to increase the number of people on direct payments which give them control over their own budget from 800 this year to 4000 by 2011.

Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool PCT said:- “We are deeply committed to providing the best possible services for people across Liverpool and this consultation will allow us to find out in more detail about what people currently value from the services being provided and what improvements they would like to see made.  By re-designing the social care system in this way, we would be providing more personalised care that allows greater choice and control for the patient.

However, we recognise that this would be a major shake-up of services and any framework and decisions would need to be supported by policy initiators, academics, commissioners, service professionals, providers as well as the service users themselves.”

Discussions with all of those affected, including staff, health workers, partner organisations, carers and people who receive services, is taking place over the next few weeks as part of ‘Personalisation Month’.

Merseytravel freezes tunnel tolls

MERSEYTRAVEL is freezing tunnel tolls at their current levels from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, following a meeting of the Passenger Transport Authority.

The decision means toll levels for all classes of vehicles will be maintained.  The aim is to support businesses and the public during the current economic climate.

Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said:- “We appreciate the difficulties facing many people, particularly during the current climate, and we know we have a responsibility to support them as much as we can through this difficult time. 

Ensuring that we are supporting the social and economic regeneration of the region has also been a major factor in our decision. 

By maintaining all of the tunnel toll charges at their current levels we can only help the vast majority of people using the tunnels for private or commercial reasons. 

Like every other PTA we have financial pressures, but we hope people appreciate what we are trying to do with these prices freezes.”

The Tunnel Toll charges will remain as follows: -

* Class 1 vehicles - £1.40 (or £1.25 with a Fast Tag)
* Class 2 vehicles - £2.80 (or £2.50 with a Fast Tag)
* Class 3 vehicles - £4.20 (or £3.75 with a Fast Tag)
* Class 4 vehicles - £5.60 (or £5.00 with a Fast Tag)

LIVERPOOL MUM WORKS HER WAY ONTO HOUSING LADDER

MATURE student and mum of two Julia Walimbwa is determined to make 2009 the year she finally gets on the property ladder – so much so, that she’s helping to build her new home herself!  In between studying part-time for a social work degree at Liverpool John Moores University, working as a hairdresser and caring for her two sons, the 40 year old from Toxteth still finds the energy to work on site at Liverpool Habitat for Humanity.

Julia is the latest would-be home owner to sign up for an innovative and award winning project designed to help low-income families onto the property ladder.  Instead of coming up with a £10,000 cash deposit, they must invest 500 hours of ‘sweat equity’ helping to build their own home and those of their neighbours. They can then purchase between 50 and 70% of the home, with no rent due on the remaining share for the first five years.

Julia, who currently lives locally in a rented property with her sons, Sydney, aged 13 and Timothy, 12, first heard about the housing charity whilst doing voluntary work with a local women’s group for refugees and asylum seekers.  She explains:- “Some leaflets were dropped off at St Bernard’s Church, where the group meets, and I was interested straight away. I applied and was interviewed by the charity’s family selection committee before being accepted onto the scheme.  I’d thought about owning my own home but it had always seemed too expensive, I didn’t have the money for a deposit and, with two young sons, it was difficult to save up. Being able to invest ‘sweat equity’ rather than cash is a great idea. It means that people like me who do not have the money available can use their strength and hard work instead.”

Julia is looking forward to moving into her 3-bedroom terraced home on Kingsley Road, in Granby-Toxteth, as soon as possible this year and has currently notched up almost 200 of her 500 hours. She’s been helped by friends and family, including good friend Asunta Ojoro, who recently spent a whole week at Liverpool Habitat for Humanity working alongside Julia.  Julia adds:- “It’s hard work, but I am really enjoying the experience. When I finally move in it will be a great sense of achievement to know that I have helped to build my home with my own hands. My boys are also very excited and have already chosen their bedrooms.”

Liverpool Habitat for Humanity has recently launched the 3rd phase of homes at Kingsley Road and is currently considering applications for these three houses and future phases. Current prices are from £117,000 for a three-bedroom mid-terrace and from £121,500 for an end-terrace, with home partners able to purchase between 50 and 70% in the first instance with the help of a mortgage and their sweat equity contribution.

Van Garber, the charity’s executive director, says:- “Julia is the perfect example of the type of person we are trying to help with this project, a hard working mum who’s willing to sacrifice some of her spare time to achieve her goal of home ownership. Julia and our other home partners have been working alongside volunteers from all over the world to help build these properties.”

LHFH is an affiliate of the international Habitat for Humanity organisation, which is dedicated to eliminating housing poverty. A new Habitat home is finished every 21 minutes somewhere in the world. The Kingsley Road site in Liverpool will eventually feature 32 houses.  Almost all of the labour is done by volunteers – including future home owners, students, individuals, church and community groups, and corporate team-builds – under the watchful eye of trained site staff.

For further information about Liverpool Habitat for Humanity, including how to apply for a home or opportunities to volunteer, call 0151 707 9440 or visit www.liverpoolhfh.co.uk.