Topic 2: Accessing flexible funding, and how it can be used
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What we want to achieve
We want to ensure that disabled people and their carers that can and want to manage their own budgets, can access flexible funding and use it to meet their particular needs.
We want to improve the transparency of the flexible funding system so that Government and DSS users can have confidence that flexible funding is being allocated on a fair basis and is support outcomes that it is provided for.
We need to ensure that flexible funding is being used consistently when it is the best way for a disabled person to receive their support.
We also need to ensure that DSS clients who do not use flexible funding also receive a fair and consistent level of support.
Why change is needed
Many disabled people and carers have told us that accessing flexible funding has improved their lives. But for many disabled people recent changes to flexible funding has reduced flexibility that allows them to meet their needs in the way that works best for them. Many have also questioned whether the current rules-based approach (in the purchasing guidelines) is the best approach for flexible funding. The list of items that can, or cannot, be purchased, and other rules set out in the guidelines, is hard to understand and follow, and does not provide enough flexibility.
We have also heard feedback that flexible funding is not the best way to support some disabled people. Some people find flexible funding good for some support needs but want other support provided differently (usually a DSS contracted provider).
There is a lack of transparency about what flexible funding is and can be used for. This makes it difficult for those allocated flexible funding to know whether the amount allocated to them is the amount they are entitled to and makes it difficult to be assured that flexible funding is being used effectively and is improving outcomes.
What we are proposing
We are proposing two broad changes from the way flexible funding currently operates: