Dorset residents given more choice and control with expanded care funding offer

Residents across Dorset are to have more choice and flexibility in how their care and support is arranged as Dorset Council expands its Individual Service Funds offer from 1 July.

Individual Service Funds are effectively “personal care budgets”. They allow people to choose an accredited provider to hold and organise their funding, giving them more control over how their support is delivered without having to manage the payments themselves.

From July, residents who choose this option will be able to select from a much wider range of providers, with the council increasing the number available from 6 to around 40. This will make it easier for people to find support that fits their needs, goals and daily lives.

The approach focuses on helping people live more independently and stay connected to their communities. For example, people can choose to pool some of their support funding with others to take part in shared activities, build friendships and thus reduce loneliness.

The new arrangements also allow people to tailor support around changing needs. Funding can also be set aside for short periods and used when it is most needed, offering more flexibility for people whose circumstances fluctuate.

Individual Service Funds were introduced under the Care Act as a way of delivering personalised care. Dorset Council has been using them since 2016, and the expanded offer builds on what has worked well, while improving choice and consistency across the county.

The changes also encourage greater use of local community groups and charities, helping people get more value from their support while strengthening community connections.

Cllr. Steve Robinson, Dorset Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said:

“This is a genuinely exciting expansion of our support work and is a direct outcome of our core ambition of “Communities for All”. We all want to feel that we have control over the things that happen to us and everyone’s needs and circumstances are different. This new development gives people real choice in how their care works for them; it gives them more control over their day to day lives without the added stress of managing the money themselves. It also opens up more opportunities to get involved in community activities and build connections with others.

“For many residents, especially working age adults, this can make a real difference to independence, wellbeing and quality of life.”

One example of how flexible support can work in practice is at Tumbledown Farm in Weymouth, a 27‑acre former farm owned by Weymouth Town Council, run as an inclusive community space. Individual Service Funds can be used to spend time at sessions at Tumbledown Farm, which offers opportunities to grow food, learn new skills, volunteer and spend time outdoors in a supportive environment.

Residents interested in Individual Service Funds can speak to their care team or provider to find out if the option is right for them.