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Radical plans to personalise social care in Leicestershire

Posted on 22/07/2008

helping hands

Radical changes to social care in Leicestershire will be outlined at a meeting next week.

The County Council wants to personalise its social care and will update the Cabinet on the plans next Tuesday (29th July).

This fundamental shift in delivering care in Leicestershire will give people choice, control and power. It is in line with a national programme but is being tailored to suit local needs.

Personalisation also involves giving people individual budgets which they can use to tailor the services they receive and a direct cash payment to acquire this support.

The changes will be paid for from the governments Social Care Reform Grant.

More detailed plans will be worked out in the coming months involving service users, staff and partners.

David Sprason, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "Whilst we have provided excellent services in Leicestershire and will continue to do so, we know that we must do things differently to meet peoples expectations in the future.

"Personalising the care we provide is an incredibly exciting prospect as it involves a shift in the balance of power so that people themselves are in control and assisted to play a full and active part in their communities.

"We are committed to engaging people who use our services and staff in the development of this crucial change."

For further information on social care, go to: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/socialcare