National Guidance on the Implementation of Local Area Co-ordination: An Easy Guide

How do Local Area Co-ordinators support people to take more control?

Local area co-ordinators put the person first. So they can help to change the way that services support citizens. They also support people to gain confidence to take more control over their lives and to be part of their community.

People should be able to contact their local area co-ordinator without having an assessment (talking to someone to help them decide what support they might need).

Some people in contact with local area co-ordinators may not need services. Local area co-ordinators can help people to get to know other people and to get involved in things they enjoy.

Local area co-ordinators are part of a bigger picture. There is a lot of talk just now about changing the way services support people. Services should help each individual to get the kind of life they want. This is called 'personalisation'.

You will also hear about 'self-directed support'. This means that the person has the right to more control over the way the money that the service has to spend on them is used. For example, someone might like support to go on holiday with a friend rather than going to respite (a break from care).

It is important that people get opportunities to develop the skills and confidence to take more control. Citizen Leadership means that people take responsibility to work with others to make things better for themselves and other people.

Local area co-ordinators can help to make these changes happen. They do this by getting to know someone so that the person can have the confidence to make the changes they want. So local area co-ordinators should be part of all these other changes too.

Local area co-ordinators are different because they support people even if they cannot access other services. This means that local area co-ordinators can help prevent things going wrong. They find out what people can do and then support them to take small steps towards a better life.