The Right to Control is a new right for disabled people which is being piloted in Surrey and six other local authority areas, known as Trailblazers. The other Trailblazers are:
The Right to Control lets disabled people make their own decisions about their support using a range of public services. This is instead of other people making decisions for them.
It means disabled people can take a direct payment to buy housing and employment services they need, as they already can do with social care services. They do not necessarily have to manage the direct payment themselves.
The Right to Control requires that all the public bodies involved work together in order to collectively meet the individual needs of each disabled person.
It is being tested in the Epsom & Ewell and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council areas only. These areas were chosen because Self Directed Support was originally tested there and because they were already developing information and support services run by local disabled people, known as Hubs. There are Hubs in Epsom and Redhill in the Right to Control area.
The Right to Control pilot started on 13 December 2010 and was initially intended to last for two years. It has now been extended for 12 months, until December 2013.
The Right to Control Statutory Guidance and the Good Practice Guide have been updated. Revised versions, together with the new regulations, are available on the Office for Disabilities website
Disabled adults (aged 18 and over) who live in the Trailblazer area and who are offered support by one of the organisations involved are eligible for the Right to Control.
People with learning disabilities, with physical or sensory impairments, with long-term conditions, with disabilities due to old age or with mental health needs are eligible.
It does not change the rules that are used to determine whether someone is eligible for the support they have asked for.
They will be told about:
The Right to Control can be accessed via six funding streams. These public bodies will work together to provide the services needed by a disabled person.
Alternatively, Right to Control can be accessed via the Hubs in Redhill or Epsom where a preliminary assessment can be carried out. Their contact details are:
The Hub Epsom - 131 High Street, Epsom, KT19 8EF
Tel 01372 744479 Email: enquiries@thehubepsom.org.uk TelTel
The Hub Redhill - 41 High Street, Redhill, RH1 1RX
Tel 01737 761614 Email: info@thehubredhill.org.uk
Text: 07704 288772
If someone is already receiving support from the Independent Living Fund (ILF) they will have been sent information about the Right to Control; the ILF is closed to new applicants.
It is intended to start gradually offering the Right to Control to existing customers of Right to Control funding streams at the time of their review, in addition to new customers.
An essential part of enabling disabled individuals to exercise choice and control over the support they receive is ensuring that they have adequate support to do so.
Advice and information, support, advocacy and brokerage about and for the Right to Control will be available from a range and choice of information, support, advocacy, and brokerage services.
More information about this is available in the Right to Control leaflet which you can download below.
Choice and control is not necessarily about having a direct payment.
For some individuals, a direct payment may not be the most effective way to have control. Others may prefer to have an influence over the support they receive but may not want to take a direct payment, manage money and employ staff.
Individuals will be supported to have choice and control, even if they choose not to take a direct payment.
Individuals who choose to receive a direct payment will be given appropriate guidance and support on how to manage the funding provided, and will be provided with a clear indication of their responsibilities.
Read the personal stories below to see how it has helped some disabled people in Surrey - if you would like to read more stories, please contact the Right to Control project team (see below)
Ben's story
Ben is a young man with a visual impairment. He had studied IT at university, and wanted to work in that field. However, he lacked confidence in his own ability and found travelling to different locations difficult. He was struggling to successfully apply for jobs and had little success in securing interviews.
Ben went to Hub Redhill where he had a Right to Control preliminary assessment completed. This indicated a referral to Work Choice, so he was referred to the project’s Disability Employment Adviser. He found Ben to be eligible for the Work Choice programme,
Through Right to Control, Ben could either use the Jobcentre’s contracted provider to support him, or, using a direct payment, choose a provider himself – he opted for a direct payment, and chose Employability (Surrey County Council’s supported employment service) to support him.
An Action Plan was put in place for Ben that focused him on gaining independence with travelling, and on developing his existing skills and capabilities. Ben’s confidence grew quickly and various technologies and aides were explored to assist him. Ben attended a number of interviews, which gave him the chance to explore different positions and work scenarios. Ben excelled in a number of pre-interview tests, which also improved his confidence.
He managed to secure a work experience placement as IT support at a local college. This proved very successful - he not only learnt many new skills but also increased in confidence, helped by his friendly personality and willingness to learn.
Whilst doing his placement, Ben said ‘I love my placement at Reigate College and everyone there is very friendly and amicable. I have learnt many skills.... My hopes for the future are still that the placement will become full time and paid, and the signs of this happening are still very positive’.
Three months later, Ben was offered a 12 month full time contract as Junior IT Support at the college, with a view to it becoming permanent. Ben did not require any further job coaching or other support, although this might have been possible with the Work Choice funding.
The personalised programme designed for Ben with the Work Choice direct payment would not have been possible without the flexibilities available through Right to Control. He could not have used a provider able to give him the specialist support he needed.
Susan’s story
Susan has learning disabilities and has been assessed as being on the autistic spectrum. In the past, she had obtained employment on her own, but had not managed to sustain a job beyond the probationary period due to various factors – this left her feeling very low. She was referred to the Right to Control Disability Employment Adviser who completed the Right to Control preliminary assessment with her. This indicated that she might be eligible for Work Choice, and also for Adult Social Care – those referrals were made on her behalf. She started volunteering at the Redhill Hub to increase her confidence.
Having been found eligible for Work Choice, several providers for the programme were discussed with Susan, and she chose the Queen Elizabeth Foundation (QEF) College in Leatherhead.She started with QEF in January 2012, on their Employability programme with a view to moving on to a vocational course to enhance her skills and move her towards employment.
As a result of the assessment by Adult Social Care, it was apparent that S needed help with developing skills with the aim of her living independently of her parents, social activities and cookery skills. She now receives a direct payment, using a supported managed account, to provide the support she needs.
As part of her course at the QEF, Susan worked at one of Surrey County Council’s offices as an administrative assistant, where she did extremely well. Subsequently, she applied for and was offered an apprenticeship by Surrey County Council. After an initial placement, it was realised she had excellent people-skills, so her job changed and she is now working in a Day Centre for adults with learning disabilities, helping deliver art clases.
The holistic assessment provided through Right to Control facilitated referrals to Adult Social Care and Work Choice. Susan was able to use a direct payment under the Work Choice programme to undertake a vocational course at the college of her choice, and this led directly to her gaining employment.
Dean’s story
Dean’s bi-polar causes him to get very anxious when too high demands are made of him – he needs someone to support him and guide him on his most challenging days.
For the past 4 years, Dean has been working part-time – for a few hours each day – as a cleaner at a local club. Initially, he coped well, but over time it was found that there would be periods when he could not manage on his own. He needed support.
In the past, he had been supported by Employability (Surrey County Council’s supported employment service), but as they are not a long-term support service they had handed over this role to staff from his care home. The care home found it increasingly difficult to provide sufficient support, due to staffing issues. However, without support Dean was at risk of losing his job. Employability had been keeping a ‘watching brief’ over his case, and they stepped in again to bridge the gap.
Employability referred Dean to the Hub in Epsom where a preliminary Right to Control assessment was completed. This indicated a referral to Access to Work; that referral was made on his behalf through Right to Control. Dean already had an allocated care manager from Adult Social Care.
Dean was found eligible for Access to Work and received 4 hours of at work support per week. Dean chose Employability to provide this support, as he was familiar with them.At a joint support planning meeting, Dean confirmed that he was happy with the support he was receiving, but expressed a preference to have as few different support workers as possible involved. Employability agreed to follow this wish as far as it could.
It also then came to light that there were problems with the payment of Employability’s accounts, as they were often being paid late, due to a lack of funds in Dean’s account. Access to Work was approached about making the payments in advance, and this was subsequently arranged. This resolved the issue.
Without Right to Control, Dean would not have received Access to Work funding,– and without support he would have lost his job. The payments could not have been paid to him in advance.
To make the Right to Control process as clear and accessible as possible to the disabled person, any information with which they are provided will be presented in a format which is appropriate for that individual.
Appropriate formats include, but are not limited to, large print, audio CD, Braille, Easy Read and British Sign Language.
For Right to Control information in large print, on tape, in Braille, and other languages please contact us on:
or contact the Hub in Epsom on 01372 744479; e-mail enquiries@thehubepsom.org.uk
or contact the Right to Control project team on 01372 730030; email rtc@surreyilc.org.uk; text 07528 323 537
Please note that the Right to Control audio contains some out of date information - the pilot has been extended until December 2013, and both Hub Epsom and Hub Redhill are open. Details of advocacy services available are not current - please refer to the Right to Control leaflet (see below) for up to date information.
Permalink: http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/?a=181267
Can't find what you're looking for? Tell us how we can improve
Copyright © 2013 Surrey County Council
