Support Brokerage

Support Brokerage offered by Imagineer has a very clear focus on YOU, doing what needs to be done to support you to get to where you want to be. This is regardless of whether you are eligible for Health and Social Care Support, if you are experiencing complicated or challenging life circumstances; or if you have other people in your life who are involved in helping you to plan and organise your support. We understand that everybody’s circumstances are different.

What is a Support Broker?

Support Brokers act as independent facilitators working alongside people, supporting them to plan to live the life of their choice. They work directly for the person; supporting them to stay in control, to understand and explore a whole range of opportunities and to confidently take action to achieve their desired outcomes. As Support Brokers, our ultimate aim is to see people taking full control of their own lives.

Life in the Driving Seat

At Imagineer, we believe that each person should be in the driving seat of their own life.

We believe that everyone has a voice, and the ability to communicate their needs, wishes and preferences.

We believe that everyone has a dream and a purpose.

We believe everyone to be a citizen, part of their local community and able to be involved.

As Support Brokers, we work alongside people to express themselves, to develop plans and to take action which enables them to lead a life that makes sense to them; by identifying and connecting to people, places, opportunities and resources which will assist them with achieving this.

The History of Support Brokerage

Support Brokerage originated in Canada in the 1970s when a group of families approached their local authority to request a greater level of input and control over planning the support their children needed.

They requested to be given control over the funding that the local authority had for building and delivering a service to their children.

These families asked for the opportunity for a better life and to be given the chance to consider how to use the funding in a different way to achieve this in the heart of their communities.

Support Brokerage came into existence as a family-led, community-based initiative.

It has continued to evolve since the 1970s through numerous campaigning bodies, guidance documents and pilot projects; and is now recognised as a crucial component of Self-Directed Support.

How Can a Support Broker Work With You?

Listed below are some of the functions of a Support Broker:

• Provide relevant and timely information, advice and guidance relating to health and social care processes and community opportunities.
• Signpost people to the specific information they need, with a follow-up to check on the outcome.
• Assist in the development of a Person-Centred Plan.
• Assist in the development of a Support Plan.
• Develop the budget of a Support Plan or a Person-Centred Plan.
• Identify and apply for funding from all government and non-government sources.
• Assist with Local Authority & Health-based funding negotiations.
• Conduct research covering a broad range of topics including funding, resources and community-based opportunities.
• Identify a range of opportunities and resources within a person’s community, and enable the person to find ways to access these and to make connections.
• Supporting the person (and/or their family) to communicate and negotiate with service and support provider organisations – working with them to achieve an approach that is right for the person.
• Mediate and resolve problems.
• Support to implement the Person-Centred Plan/Support Plan, including recruitment of Support Workers or Personal Assistants.
• Some Support Brokers may offer a professional skill set from their previous training and work experience (such as registered Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Advocacy, Nursing, Housing Specialists and other Allied Health & Social Care Professionals etc) and can lean into this skill set as part of their role as a Support Broker.

Who Can Be a Support Broker?

• Self-Brokerage – A person may fulfil some of the Support Brokerage functions themselves.
• Community-Based Brokerage – A person’s family, friends or members of the person’s community may fulfil some of the Support Brokerage functions.
• Peer Brokerage – Someone with lived experience may fulfil the Support Brokerage function with the person on an unpaid or paid basis.
• Volunteer Support Brokers – This is someone who is prepared to fulfil the Support Brokerage functions on a voluntary basis. Volunteer Support Brokers can come from a range of backgrounds and experiences.
• Paid Support Brokerage – Someone who is fulfilling the role of Support Brokerage in a paid capacity. Paid Support Brokers usually offer a level of expertise and experience.
• Provider-Based Support Brokerage – A Support Broker that is employed by the Local Authority, a Clinical Commissioning Group or a service provider, which is often the case for providers who offer Individual Service Funds.

Support Brokerage may be provided by one or a combination of the above methods.

Further Information About Support Brokerage

Support Brokers are accountable to the people they work for, providing assistance as each person requires, from the range of functions that fall within the scope of what a Support Broker can do (see above).

Support Brokers do not:

• have statutory authority to make decisions
• have the right or authority to talk to other people (e.g. Care Managers, Support Workers) to receive or share information about the person they are working for – without the consent of that person
• replace the role of Social Workers

The social care and health system cannot impose a requirement on Support Brokers to report back to other professionals, such as care managers; without the express consent of the person they are working alongside.

Support Brokerage doesn’t cover the continued assistance some people require to ensure the ongoing implementation of their Support Plan. Where ongoing support is required, Brokerage Management can help make sure the vision set out in a person’s Support Plan is continually managed and worked towards.

The National Brokerage Network provides a support structure for those delivering Support Brokerage as a set of functions or as a designated role.

Support Brokerage Success Stories

Here is a video story about the difference Support Brokerage has made to a lady called Alison.

Here is Daisy’s story about how Support Brokerage helped her gain the independence she was craving.

Working with Imagineer as Your Support Brokers

• Support Brokers at Imagineer are accredited through the National Brokerage Network.
• We will work you to make the best of the funding available for our input as Support Brokers.

If you choose Imagineer to provide Independent Support Brokerage, we will first spend time with you discussing what you are looking to achieve and the input that you would like from the team at Imagineer. We will then write this up into a Working Party Agreement which is an informal document that sets out expectations of our involvement and anyone else involved with your plan, the timeframes and costs.

At Imagineer we are not bound to paperwork and have a very clear focus on you and working with you, doing what needs to be done to support you to get to where you want to be.

We will utilise all our knowledge, skills and connections to support you to move forward.

How Much Does Support Brokerage Cost?

The cost of Support Brokerage is determined by the level of work involved. Each person’s circumstances are different. We start with a conversation to learn more about what you need help with and how we can support you. There is a charge for all Support Brokerage work carried out by Imagineer. This may sometimes be funded as part of your overall support plan costs, and sometimes it is covered through other avenues of funding or eligibility. As part of our initial chat with you, we may be able to explore if any funding options are available to cover the cost of your Support Brokerage. Some people we work with may choose to cover this cost themselves. Please get in touch with us using the details below so that we can help you to work out the best option.

Enquiries

Telephone: 07572 322200

Email: info@imagineer.org.uk