Devon County Council

Common terms used in Putting People First and their meanings

Words used in Putting People First and what they mean (213KB - pdf help) - an Easy Read version of common terms (PDF in colour).

Advocacy – help given to people to enable them to express their opinions, for example, about what community care services they require, and/or rights to which they or their advocates believe them to be entitled. An advocate can be a friend or relative authorised to speak or act on behalf of a person. The Mental Capacity Act says some people must have an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate to help make decisions about money, health and support. For more information see our factsheet 'FS13 What is advocacy?'.

Assessment conversation – used to identify an individual’s social care and support needs and their eligibility for care and support through use of Fair Access to Care Services eligibility criteria. Our adviser asks questions about the outcomes the person wants to achieve. The answers will be used to calculate their Personal Budget.

BICA (Background Information Contact Assessment) – an initial assessment by telephone through an adviser at a Care Direct Plus.

Commissioning – the process how we decide to spend money to get the best possible services for local people.

Direct Payments – monthly payments allocated to eligible people, by us, as the means of controlling their own care – allowing more choice and flexibility. They enable people to purchase their own care that they have been assessed as needing, rather than use council services. It enables them to make their own decisions about how their care is delivered. For more information see our factsheet 'FS8 Direct Payments'.

Estimated amount – money we may be able to offer the person following an assessment. This is determined by the RAS. It must be agreed our adviser and individual before it becomes the Personal Budget. The actual amount allocated to the person may differ according to the plan they make for their support. For more information see our factsheet'FS6 Estimating your budget'.

FACE (Functional Analysis of the Care Environment) – The providers of the care management assessment and planning tool. They have also designed the RAS calculation system.

Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) – Devon County Council's Adult & Community Services has a duty to assess people who either appear to have an illness or to be disabled, and who may benefit from care services. A person is only eligible for care services where their needs are assessed as critical or substantial, and where there is no one else willing and able to assist them.

Carers also have a right to an assessment where they are substantial and regular carers. Independent living – is living your life as fully as you can with the support you need to do so– one of the goals of Putting People First.

For more information see our factsheet 'FS1 Fair Access to Care Services (FACS)'.

Market Shaping – to facilitate and support changes in the social care market away from traditional service provision which delivers the outcomes people need to promote their independence, well-being and dignity.

Outcomes – the changes, benefits or impact something has on the life of a person, that happen as a result of provision of social care and support. For example, improved quality of life. A support plan should identify the outcomes that the individual wants to achieve.

Personal Brokerage – We commission long term, respite and emergency care packages for people with complex, unstable and unpredictable needs and risks through our team of DCC Personal Brokers. The aim is to achieve the provision of choice and effective outcomes for people using services in Devon. Some people who receive a Direct Payment can also choose to use Personal Brokerage to assist with the selection of a service provider. For more information see our factsheet 'FS18 Guide to Personal Brokerage'.

Personal Budgets – an up-front amount of money allocated to an eligible individual to meet their social care needs following an assessment. People can have some or all of this money paid directly to them as a ‘Direct Payment’. For more information see our factsheet 'FS8 Personal Budgets'.

Person Centred Planning – a process designed to assist someone to make plans for their future. People are able to formally list their preferences as part of a plan so that no matter where they go people can understand what is important to them. It is used most often as a life planning model to enable individuals with disabilities to increase their personal independence.

Personalisation – The process by which state provided services can be adapted to suit people, using the Putting People First approach. This means everyone having choice and control over the shape of their support along with a greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Putting People First – the government vision of the future of social care. In Devon we are transforming adult social care with an increased emphasis on early intervention and giving people more choice and control.

Reablement – or Social Care Reablement  –  working to make sure that people get the maximum chance to realise their full potential for independence and self care before they have to take decisions about their long term support needs. It is a service provided to help people to rebuild the independence skills that they need to continue to live in their own home, or an environment of their choice for as long as possible. It is an offer made to people who are living at home or being discharged from hospital or Rapid Response Services.

Rapid Response –  ensures that people have a real choice to remain in their own home when they are experiencing a crisis rather than being admitted unnecessarily into a hospital or care home. It provides emergency support, working in partnership with community nursing services.

Rehabilitation  – consists of treatment or a range of interventions designed to facilitate the recovery from injury, illness or disease. It is envisaged that a rehabilitation service would be able to refer a person for social care reablement

Resource Allocation Systems (RAS) – are what the Council use to decide how much money a person gets for their support. The system has clear, public rules so everyone can see that money is given out fairly. This helps work out the estimated amount of the individual’s Personal Budget.  For more information see our factsheet 'FS6 Estimating your budget'.

Social Enterprise – is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are re-invested in the business or community rather than being driven by the need to maximise shareholder profits.

Support Plan – says how a person will spend their Personal Budget to get the life they want. The individual can get help to make a plan – perhaps from family, friends or an organisation, or they could pay someone who specialises in planning. We (the Council) must agree their plan before they get their Personal Budget.