What is it? A central network of organisations that operate undershared agreed principles and values to provide personal budget services in Trafford

What does it do? Provides opportunities for organisations to• Share knowledge, partnership working, joint funding and

marketing initiatives• Support to engage effectively with regulators and to meet

regulatory Requirements • Practical support in developing policies, procedures and

methods of working • Support and advice to manage individual situations and

address identified problems • A place where people can get together for mutual support and

to reduce isolation • Access to training, support to tailored insurance or other

products

Anything else?

Crucially it provides a single point of access

for budget holders to: • Access the database of services signed up to the

consortium• Find out about and access services of their choice

including reading users reviews• Rate those services• Feel confident about the quality of those services and

mechanisms to resolve issues/ complaints/ issues

Principles and Values

Overview• Members will ensure that they abide by its values and

principles of meeting people as individuals with personal choice.

• In this sense people receiving or seeking help and support continue to personally develop, have aspirations and be provided with opportunities that enable this progression in a way that is meaningful in their own life.

• The above definition is focused on how organisations and groups connected through ‘My Choice’ think about and interact at a personal level and these values have been transferred into the service they provide.

Trafford Personal Budget Consortium members:• Define the service accurately and back it up with effective policies, to

ensure clarity about what people need and individuals know what they can expect.

• Provide relevant, quality information in accessible formats so people’s needs are met

• Support people in benefiting from impartial information, advice and/or guidance by helping them to examine options and make choices.

• Provide clear leadership so that the service is planned around measurable objectives and managed with appropriate systems and resources.

• Provide an effective induction, training and development programme for staff and volunteers so that they have the right mix of competence and skills for the job.

• Proactively seek formal and informal feedback on the quality of the service from both users, carers and staff and use it to improve the service.

• Routinely monitor and measure the effectiveness of the service and use this evaluation to inform planning for continuous improvement.

• Are open and transparent and the service is open to independent review.

• Promote publicly and to employers and employees a positive message about disability

• Ensure service users are able to access the provider of their choice.

• Ensure that the voice of people using the service is listened to.

• Create a culture where self management is embraced and it is recognized that individuals are expert in their own health and wellbeing.

Training1. Legal frameworks• Not-for-profit• Community Interest Company• For Profit• Charitable

2. Ethics and governance• My Choice values and principles

3. Business planning• Partnership working• Stakeholder management• Strategy development• Horizon scanning

4. Financial planning• Grants• Loans• Contracts for services

5. Human Resources• Employment law• Volunteers

6. Bid writing• Fundraising applications

7. Marketing & market development• Promoting services marketing success

8. Outcomes, evaluation, qualityassurance• My Choice Outcomes and quality

assurance

Enquiries to: information@my-choice.org.uk