When i first became a person who was in receipt of a Personalised Budget i was really excited at first, because i thought now i have the freedom to choose my own staff and all i have to is advertise in the local job centre and thought it would be just that simple.
Little did i know how difficult it would be to deal with staff within this position at the job centre who did not realise what a Personalised Budget is and what Personal Assistants are and what they are not or whatever we choose to call them is irrelevant.
Perhaps like myself in 2008 when they first became available in North-East Essex you were a bit daunted by the whole process and what you have to go through with a social worker, completing a support plan, which is different to each person and what it contains.
I spent the whole week after the initial assessment working out what to say and want i wanted to do, and yes you are allowed to use a certain amount of time in education and training depending that this is going to be of some benefit to you and possibly others around you.
Now i thought i have done the support plan which mine was about ten pages of A4 long and by the way a support plan can be in any format you like, so you can if you wish produce a spoken plan, or even an artistic one provided that it says what you want to do.
right i went through the process of trying to find an appropriate member of staff, however i was fortunate as i knew the Rectors wife wanted to help, so i just took her on and checked her references, and unfortunately she only lasted about a year, and i am still in contact, she became very ill.
next now this was going to be fun the dreaded job centre who totally misinterpret what you say on your job description, now a word of warning, they will have the tendency to state that you provide a pension. You can but make sure that it is a stake holder pension.
You will find that you may be bombarded with people who are totally inappropriate(these people can be trained) for you and your needs, or they may be just right and three or four come along at once.
My advice is ask for a CV- curriculum Vitae as this gives you all the information that you need and application form is also essential and always ask for references as some people tend to try it on with you and don't be fooled.
I am aware of people who have had the wool pulled over their eyes and i have been there too! This is about people who are only out their for the money and not for the position and remember you probably weren't aware that being a personal assistant is a worthwhile career.
Oh and another point is that we can help you with everything around being placed within self directed support.
just contact visit www.lifechanging-brokerageservices.co.uk
or call 07538 278234 and ask for David
