Over the last few months we have been giving you updates about our new project ‘Support Brokerage Plus’. This is a special issue of our newsletter to tell you more about it, and happily,  to introduce our new Support Brokers.

 

EDG received Lottery funding at the end of 2023, to set up a network of Support Brokers, people who can provide a range of practical and emotional support to parent carers and  siblings of a family member with learning disability.

 

We recently completed our training programme for the people we recruited into the role. They are a great group, with a wide range of skills and knowledge including several with lived experience as parent carers.

 

The training programme was the first step in setting up the project, and we looked at values and motivations as well as some of the more practical aspects of the role. The second stage began last month with our first network meeting.       

 

Lindsay Graham is the Support Brokerage Co-ordinator and she will be working with the brokers to create the kind of network they want, a place where they can access peer support and guidance as well as share their knowledge with each other.

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How might a Support Broker work with you?

 

Much of what a Support Broker offers will be familiar to you if you have worked with EDG before, providing information,  guidance, advocacy – supporting you to speak for yourself or speaking on your behalf, carrying out organisational and administrative tasks with you – the range of things that are part of being the parent carer of a child, young person or adult with learning disability. With the project we are trying to offer families a clearer pathway of support and this includes the Support Broker agreeing with you what are the areas you want support with and a timeframe that can help with planning and juggling the day to day life of family and parenting.

 

How is the work funded?

 

Support Brokers can be paid from the supported person’s self-directed support budget and this is discussed at the initial meeting so you know what the total amount will be.              

 

Most people have a Direct Payment and there is an 18% element within the budget to cover this kind of support. It is recognised that using a budget offers both freedoms but also responsibilities and that most of us will need guidance and  assistance with this.

 

If you don’t yet have a budget then the fees can be paid from the supported person’s benefits, although we do recognise that these often form an important part of the household income. There are also other routes such as ILF (Independent Living Fund) Planning Grant and the Support Broker will explore these with you.

 

If you are interested, or would like more information about the Support Brokerage + project, please get in touch with Lindsay Graham by email Lindsay@edg-sco.org or by phone at the EDG office on 476 0522.