WCBC: Citizen Directed Support

(previously known as Self Directed Support)

Wrexham Social Care Department recognises that every member of our community is an individual and that, when working with people, we need to ensure that we take a person-centred approach. This means that we treat everyone as an individual throughout their involvement with the Social Care Department, looking at what is important to them and helping them to solve their own problems.

The Citizen Directed Support approach commences at the point of the initial referral and involves the person in all of the discussions as to how best to meet their needs. This could be something as simple as talking through problems and working out how they can be solved, linking into other people who the person has in their life, who can help to meet their needs and what facilities are available to them in their local communities. We are all members of our local communities and are able to contribute to community life in some way, whilst also receiving support from the community. At this stage, referrals may be made to external organisations or to other areas of Adult Social Care, eg. Occupational Therapy for adaptations, or to other areas of WCBC, eg. Housing Department.

During the initial discussions with the Department, it is important to establish what people are able to do for themselves and to identify what daily living skills can be learnt or developed (enablement). There may also be opportunities to help those who have lost some of their skills to be re-abled, either through a person centred enablement plan, which may or may not involve paid support, or through the re-ablement team.

There is a close relationship between Adult Social Care and the Local Health Board, including having some integrated teams (where social care staff and health professionals work together to support people). Adult Social Care currently provides Citizen Directed Support to people who have learning disabilities and focuses on what their abilities are, their goals and aspirations and how we can work together to best meet the needs of those individuals.

There are many options available for people to achieve their goals in their own ‘natural networks’, their family, friends and local communities. It may also be appropriate, (if the person is eligible for paid services under the department’s eligibility criteria), to compile a Citizen Directed, person centred support plan (in conjunction with the individual, their family members and/or unpaid carers), which shows clearly how each person’s identified outcomes (goals) will be met. There is a range of options which can be considered, both in terms of planning and getting the right support for the person concerned, as well as with managing the delivery of the resources available. Every effort will be made for those who need support to have as much choice, control and flexibility as possible. The relevant Care Co-ordinator will be able to discuss all of the options to find the most suitable for the person concerned.