Personal Health Budget support - NHS Nene & Corby CCGs

Service Profile for Personal Health Budget Support The delegation of healthcare tasks for children with complex needs to personal assistants (PAs) under a personal health budget. Personal Health Budgets (PHBs) –During 2015/16 and in subsequent years commissioners expect the take up of PHBs to increase and a range of operating and delivery mechanisms are being implemented by the Commissioning team in order to offer PHB’s to individuals who have healthcare needs.

PHB’s operate in the same way as Personal Budgets in social care except an individual using a PHB has clinical sign off of their Care and Support Plan and health outcomes are reviewed. Nene and Corby CCGs participation in the Personal Health Budget national pilot provided a sound foundation from which we have been able to expand the number of people receiving PHBs in the County.

We have been successful locally in increasing the number of adults and children in receipt of a PHB to meet with national guidelines. In order to maintain and build on this work we are seeking to provide a service which can support families of children with complex health needs.

We are looking for providers who are able to train Personal Assistants in health tasks, assess their competence and give ongoing support . For some children young people and their families, personal budgets have significant advantages and increasing numbers of families are managing their child’s care needs with a personal budget.

The need for delegation of nursing tasks does not prevent care packages being offered. People with personal health budgets often choose to employ their own personal assistants (PAs) to help with their care and support needs.

When PAs are working with children with complex care needs, they may be required to carry out activities that are of a clinical nature. Delegation of health care tasks to a PA can be highly beneficial for the child requiring care and support.

PAs are often able to respond in a timely manner to needs, they may have developed a very good understanding of the person they care for, and have particular skills in communicating with them. Their skills, knowledge and availability can make them ideally placed to carry out delegated tasks.

When it has been decided that delegation is appropriate within the child's personal budget there are 3 key stages- • Initial training and preparation • Assessment and confirmation of competence • Confirmation of arrangements for on-going support, updating of training and reassessment of competence ‘ Further details of this service are provided within the attachment. Please ensure your email subject references Personal Health Budget Support.