A fair and affordable resource allocation system
Download (PDF 254.21 KB)Summary of report content
Personal budgets are used in Devon County Council to increase people’s ability to exercise control and choice in meeting their social care needs. Recipients of personal budgets are given a financial amount used to perchance services or items. The amount of funds provided depends on the level of need estimated by the Resource Allocation System (RAS). Devon County Council planned to reform the RAS in 2014. Healthwatch Devon were tasked with conducting focus groups with service users and carers to discuss the criteria for the new RAS.
The team engaged with 10 participants on 17 November 2014 and found that communication was a key concern for most and noted how communication could be clearer. In addition, the participants reported that the RAS principles of ‘social activities’ and ‘household tasks’ were a cause for concern or unfair when funding is being considered.
The report did not include recommendations and did not provide a response from the service provider.