NHS Somerset - South West SHA

Key focus/scope

The Somerset pilot focuses on people who have a long-term neurological condition, a learning disability or who are in transition from child to adult services, and who receive continuing healthcare (CHC) funding.

Compass Disability, a user-led organisation, will be providing the Brokerage and Support service to personal health budget holders in Somerset. NHS Somerset will work closely with health and social care staff, domiciliary care providers and the voluntary sector to deliver this pilot.

Overview of pilot and its purpose

The aim of the pilot is to develop a personalised approach to delivery of health care services where people work jointly with health workers to identify desired health outcomes, based on their health needs and the support and budget package designed to deliver those health outcomes. Links with the safeguarding adults team have been established.

The pilot anticipates that up to 30 people may take up a personal health budget over the course of the pilot, and see potential for the extension of the principles of personalisation to a wider cohort of patients.

Objectives of pilot

The pilot aims to:

• enable personal health budget holders to have choice and control and to direct the health care support that they need
• develop personal health budget processes that are efficient and equitable
• inform future commissioning of services for people with long-term conditions with focus on personalisation and QIPP.