Self-Directed Support was built to give people more control. But having control doesn’t mean that people have to manage the cash themselves (a Direct Payment). There are at least six ways that someone can manage the budget.

Six ways to manage an Individual Budget:

• by the person – by a direct payment
• by a representative – by an indirect payment
• by family and friends – through a trust fund
• by an independent organisation – a form of brokerage
• by a service provider – through an Individual Service Fund
• by a professional – e.g. a social worker or ‘Budget-holding Lead Professional’.

The diagram below summarises the six ways of managing a Budget.

This guide was produced by in Control visit www.in-control.org.uk.