Lorica Learning Disabilities, a charity based in Pulborough, Sussex, has been chosen by the Department of Health (DoH) as one of 25 "pathfinders" to receive a share of a 1.1m fund to pilot a social enterprise model of working in health and social care.
Lorica Learning Disabilities will set up a "community interest company" that will offer young people with profound disabilities the chance to use their individualised budgets to purchase the services of specialist support staff. Individualised budgets for disabled young people were introduced in a government report, Improving the life chances of disabled people, in 2005, and are being piloted in 13 areas.
Stephen Sharpe, chief executive of Lorica Learning Disabilities, said: "We want to provide a support package for young people on the verge of transition to adulthood to provide quality and holistic care throughout their lives. We will 'sell' specialist support staff to young people with profound disabilities who will 'pay' with the funding they receive from social services."
Other pathfinders that are planning to work with young people include the Healthy Living Centre in Southend and the Milton Keynes Health and Social Care Services.
The DoH also announced last week that it was investing 73m in reforming the way health and social care services are delivered in the community.
Health minister Ivan Lewis said at the launch: "Social enterprise has a strong track record of revolutionising services in other sectors."
