Self-Directed Support (SDS) has transformed how individuals access and manage their care. By offering personal budgets, Direct Payments, and Individual Service Funds (ISFs), SDS enables people to design care arrangements that align with their personal needs and aspirations. However, while these mechanisms are well established, joint funding – where individuals combine part or all of their budgets to share services – remains an underutilised opportunity.

Pooling resources can help people access better-quality services, increase flexibility, and improve cost efficiency. Despite these benefits, joint funding faces barriers such as limited awareness, administrative challenges, and inconsistent guidance from local authorities. This article explores how joint funding through Direct Payments and ISFs can empower adults to achieve their goals, highlights practical examples, and outlines solutions for wider adoption.

The Benefits of Joint Funding

By pooling resources, individuals receiving SDS can:

• Unlock Better Services: Higher-quality or more specialist services may become financially accessible.
• Expand Social Opportunities: Shared services naturally foster community and reduce isolation.
• Enhance Flexibility: Pooled funding arrangements can be tailored around personal preferences.
• Maximise Cost Efficiency: Combining budgets can lower costs through bulk purchasing or negotiated rates.

For example, two friends with similar support needs might hire a shared personal assistant for day trips, allowing them to access more hours of support while reducing costs.

Case Studies

These case studies illustrate realistic, practical examples of adults using joint funding to improve their lives.

Case Study 1: Shared Transport for Independent Living

Situation:
David, 56, and Richard, 63, both live in supported housing and have mobility impairments. Their local bus service is infrequent, making it difficult to reach medical appointments, social activities, and local shops.

Challenge:
Taxis are expensive, and neither can afford regular private transport alone.

Solution:
They agree to pool a portion of their Direct Payments to hire a private driver for three set days a week, covering medical appointments, shopping, and social outings.

By combining £40 per week each, they can afford a dedicated driver for six hours weekly – something neither could sustain individually. This arrangement:

• Improves their independence by reducing reliance on family and care workers.
• Ensures cost-effective, consistent transport.
• Encourages more social outings, reducing isolation.

Case Study 2: Hiring a Shared Personal Assistant for Social Activities

Situation:
Lauren, 45, and Priya, 39, both have learning disabilities and require support when going out. They each have Direct Payments but struggle to stretch their budgets to cover enough hours for the social activities they enjoy.

Challenge:
One-to-one support limits their opportunities, and they often have to choose between activities due to budget constraints.

Solution:
By pooling their Direct Payments, they hire a personal assistant (PA) together for eight hours per week.

Previously, they could only afford three hours per week each for individual support. Now, they split the PA’s time across outings, classes, and day trips, creating:

• More cost-effective, flexible support.
• Shared experiences that enhance their social life.
• A stronger relationship with their PA, improving continuity of care.

Case Study 3: Shared Cooking Support for Healthier Eating

Situation:
Andrew, 50, and Mark, 47, live independently but struggle with meal preparation due to their disabilities. They both receive Direct Payments to support independent living skills.

Challenge:
Hiring a personal chef or daily support for meal preparation is too costly.

Solution:
They decide to pool their budgets to employ a cooking assistant twice a week.

For £50 per session (£25 each), the assistant helps them plan meals, shop for ingredients, and cook in Andrew’s kitchen, preparing meals for both households. This arrangement:

• Ensures they eat healthier home-cooked meals.
• Improves their cooking skills over time.
• Reduces food waste and costs by planning meals together.

Case Study 4: Group Fitness and Wellbeing Support

Situation:
Ben, Maria, Lucy, and Kai all receive Direct Payments to improve their mental and physical wellbeing.

Challenge:
Individually, they cannot afford regular personal training or structured wellbeing sessions.

Solution:
They decide to pool £30 each per session (£120 total) to hire a personal trainer twice a week.

Instead of paying £40 per session each, they now receive group support for half the cost, while also:

• Benefiting from a structured fitness programme.
• Building a support network with shared goals.
• Accessing a more affordable and sustainable solution.

Direct Payments and Individual Service Funds

• Direct Payments allow individuals to directly manage their care arrangements, providing flexibility to hire personal assistants, therapists, or community support.
• Individual Service Funds (ISFs) delegate budget management to a third party while keeping the individual in control of how their care is provided.

Both mechanisms enable joint funding arrangements, making them viable tools for unlocking better services while maintaining personal choice and control.

Barriers

Despite the benefits, several obstacles limit the use of joint funding:

1. Limited Awareness and Confidence

• Many individuals and professionals do not realise pooled budgets are an option.
• Social workers and support coordinators lack confidence in advising on joint funding arrangements.

2. Administrative and Systemic Challenges

• Inconsistencies in local authority policies create confusion.
• Concerns around financial accountability and GDPR make pooling budgets seem complex.

3. Provider and Workforce Constraints

• Some providers hesitate to adapt to pooled budgets due to billing complexities.
• Staff may not be trained to work within joint-funded support models.

Next Steps

To normalise joint funding, the following changes are needed:

1. Clear Guidance and Standardised Policies

• Local authorities should provide clear frameworks and agreements for pooled budgets.
• Model contracts should be developed to remove complexity.

2. Increased Training and Awareness

• Social care professionals need targeted training to advise on joint funding.
• Public information campaigns should educate individuals on their options.

3. Innovative Employment and Service Models

• Third-party organisations can act as intermediaries, managing employment responsibilities.
• Cooperative models can enable groups to collectively employ Personal Assistants.

4. Local Authority and Provider Support

• Local authorities should actively promote best practices.
• Providers should create flexible service models to accommodate pooled resources.

Joint funding through Direct Payments and ISFs offers a powerful way to enhance flexibility, sustainability, and community-driven care. While barriers exist, they can be overcome through clearer guidance, increased awareness, and practical support mechanisms.

At SDS Network England, we believe collaboration and innovation are key to driving change. By sharing best practices, advocating for better policies, and supporting individuals to navigate joint funding, we can work towards a future where everyone has the choice and control they deserve.

Chris Watson
Chris Watson is the founder of Self Directed Futures, the Chair of SDS Network England and co-founder of LDA Commissioners Network. With extensive experience in strategic commissioning and change management, Chris advocates for innovative, community-led approaches to adult social care.