Support brokerage
Alternative Futures Group is one of the organisations leading the development of In Control and in particular service brokerage through the use of the Resource Allocation Model. The Resource Allocation Model is where a service user is assessed by the local authority and allocated a level of resource. The commissioner and the service user then appoint a support provider and that provider then works with the service user to design a support package which is agreed by the commissioner within the funds available.
One example is where we worked with two young men (both of whom were on the autistic spectrum) and their families to enable them to commission their own packages, which included agreeing the housing specification and appointing a housing provider to work with them to secure and design appropriate accommodation. Another example is where we supported a young man with a learning disability to achieve his ambition of living in the countryside. This was done by working creatively with him, his mother and two other service users to share the accommodation and support costs. He is self-funded and the others are funded through resource allocation –by supporting him to become a landlord he was able to realise his dream and everyone gained the package of support they wanted.