The support planner helps with this by writing a plan with the client and their carers. This involves gathering their opinions and presenting the information so it is accessible to them.

• Social services carry out an assessment with the client and their carers to find out what they need.
  
  
• The assessment is put through the Resource Allocation System (RAS) to calculate an estimated budget for the client
  
  
• The estimated budget is shown to a panel within the council who decide whether it would meet the client's needs
  
  
• Ealing Direct are informed that the client has an estimated budget and then they decide who would be the best support planner to refer the case to.
  
  
• The support planner receives the referal from Ealing Direct and makes contact with the person and/or their carers.
  
  
• A meeting is arranged to gather information about the client. The support planner begins to put together a profile of who they are, their preferences, the type of support they need, how they like people to work with them and their plans and goals for the future. All of this information is put onto a support plan.
  
  
• The planner also makes sure a Financial Circumstances Form is submitted (to calculate whether the client has to pay contributions towards the cost of their social care) and makes sure a seperate bank account has been set up for the budget and relevant paperwork is completed.
  
  
• The support planner also suggests resources which may be appropriate to meet the clients needs while remaining in budget. They may need to broker services with the client - this can involve contacting the resource or service provider, negotiating costs, arranging assessments, confirming arrangements and setting up payment plans.
  
  
• A budget is added to the support plan including the costs, names and services that the client will be purchasing.
  
  
• The client or someone acting on behalf of the client signs off the plan to say they agree with it.
  
  
• The plan is submitted to the council for validation. It is taken to risk panel where it may be agreed or returned to the support planner for further work.
  
  
• Once the plan is validated, the money is deposited in the client's account. The broker can help to complete brokerage of their services