grace eyre policies and procedures · c25 service user’s money valuables and financial affairs...

C25 Service User’s Money Valuables and Financial Affairs – Review due June 2020

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C25

Grace Eyre POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Individual’s Money Valuables and Financial Affairs

Date approved: June 2017 Approved by: SMT Date for Review: June 2020 Contact Person: Naomi Cox

Who is the policy for? All GEF Staff: YES Shared Lives Carers: YES Volunteers: NO


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We want everyone to be able to

look after their own money as much

as possible.

Staff and carers will support people if

needed, based on their care plan.

This policy talks about how we will

support people with their money

and make sure it is safe.

Staff and carers will have training

about how to support people with

money and what to do if they think

someone might be being financially

abused.

All information about money will be

kept confidential.

There is an accessible account book

people can use if they want.

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Individual’s Money, Valuables and Financial Affairs

Policy and Procedure

Policy It is the policy of the Grace Eyre Shared Lives , Grace Eyre Housing and Choices schemes to support people to achieve their maximum level of independence and to make informed choices and decisions in all areas of their life. This includes where possible, the opportunity to independently manage their own financial affairs. All information held by the Shared Lives and Choices schemes and the staff carers about people’s financial affairs will be kept confidentially and will be subject to the Grace Eyre policy on Confidentiality & Data Protection. The Shared Lives and Choices schemes understand they have responsibility to protect people from financial abuse and also to ensure their staff and carers are clear about the correct procedures and requirements for dealing with individuals financial affairs. Grace Eyre Staff and Carers will be provided with clear induction and training to ensure they fully understand the schemes financial policy and expected code of conduct in regards to both the management and records required for all financial transactions and expenditure.

Procedure

1. The Individual’s Support Plan will clearly record the level of support the Individual’s needs in dealing with their financial affairs, and will identify who was involved in assessing the individual’s capacity and any agreed limitations .The Individual’s Support Plan will be subject to regular reviews.


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2. The Choices and Shared Lives schemes will ensure that the staff and

carers have the necessary information, skills and knowledge to promote all the Individual’s to maximise their independence as agreed in the Individual’s Support Plan.

This will include:

• Have access to their personal financial accounts and records.

• Develop personal budgeting skills.

• Deal with their financial affairs confidentially and in private.

• Have access when needed to independent financial advice.

• Be able to store their personal money and valuables securely.

• Be supported to have their own Bank or Building Society accounts.

• Be aware of all their income and their expenditure.

3. The Choices and Shared Lives schemes will offer appropriate support for Individual’s to access training and accessible information about managing their personal finances.

4. When the Individual’s Support Plan identifies that the individual

requires support from the staff ,carer/carers to help manage their financial affairs, the Choices and Shared Lives schemes will ;

• Ensure that the Individual’s Support Plan sets out the clear limits on the Staff and carers role in making financial decisions on behalf of the person supported by them or living with them, and clear procedures that staff and carers will follow when making financial transactions on behalf of the individual.

• Ensure all staff and carers understand the requirement of keeping clear and accurate records of all the Individual’s financial affairs, and have them available for both the Individual and the Choices and Shared Lives worker to review. This will be in line with the Grace Eyre Policy on Record Keeping.

• Support staff and carers through regular supervision and monitoring visits to ensure they are able to comply with the expected required standards of the schemes.


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5. The Grace Eyre Choices and Shared Lives scheme recognises that staff and carers will be potentially vulnerable to accusations of financial impropriety and financial abuse if carers do not adhere to the policy and procedure. The scheme will expect that staff carers and workers follow the Choices and Shared Lives scheme code of conduct.

• Choices staff and Shared Lives carers and workers including their family and friends should not be in receipt of any money or valuables from the Individual’s estate.

• Choices staff and Shared Lives cares must support individuals to set up their own Bank/Building Society accounts. In line with the Individual’s Support Plan

• Choices staff and Shared Lives carers and workers should not be involved in drafting or witnessing an Individual’s last will and testament. Individuals lacking capacity would need the support of an independent agent to draft the Will with the support of a multi agency review.

• Choices staff and Shared Lives carers and workers will not enter into any personal financial arrangements with the Individuals.

• Choices staff and Shared Lives carers and workers must not hold Individual’s savings within their personal Bank/Building Society accounts.

• Choices staff and Shared Lives carers and workers and or family members must not be in receipt of gifts (monetary or material) any small tokens for Christmas and Birthdays must be reported to the relevant schemes managers.

• Choices staff and Shared Lives carers will regularly review with the Choices management and Shared Lives worker all financial procedures, and have available for inspection clear and accurate records of all Individuals transactions.(Where appropriate)


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• Choices staff and Shared Lives carers will always seek advice from the Choices and Shared Lives scheme before implementing any changes to the Individual’s Support Plan in terms of managing individual Individuals financial affairs.

• It is not anticipated that shared lives carers will hold appointee ship.


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Individual’s Account Book

Name:

Date Account Book Started:

Address:

Signature:

Savings / Bank Accounts

Name of Bank/Building Society

Address Account No.


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The Purpose of Your Account Book:

• Keep a record of the benefits you receive

• Keep a record of all your money and spending

• It will show how much money you have to pay to your carer

• It will show how much money you have to spend each week, and how much money is in your bank or building society

• It will show your savings Your Choices staff , Shared Lives Worker/Carer will:

• Support you to make sure the book is regularly updated and your money is safe


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Name:

INCOME (List all savings and benefits including shares and trust funds etc )

Income Type Amount W (weekly) M (monthly)


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Expenditure Including Direct Debits

(List all major items that you pay for regularly)

Expenditure Amount W (weekly) M (monthly)


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Procedures for Carers Supporting Service Users’ Account Books and Cash

1. Where possible Individuals should be involved or present at all financial

transactions 2. All Individuals should be supported to open their own savings account

and carers must not bank Individuals personal savings within their own accounts

3. Choices staff and Shared Lives Carers must enter name and details on

signatory sheet in account book prior to dealing with Individuals finances 4. Ability of Individuals to manage their own finances will be documented in

the Individuals Support Plan and Risk Assessment. 5. Choices staff and Shared Lives Carers should complete the account book

and check the balance with Individuals regularly. This will be checked against any Individuals Bank or Building Society statements or Bank or Building Society Account Books.

6. All entries should be made in ink. If an error is made, this should be crossed out but should still be legible. (No pencil or tipex should be used)

7. All spending on larger items should be supported by receipts. Choices staff should seek advice from the scheme in regards to purchasing items. Shared Lives Carers to contact Shared Lives Worker if expenditure for a single item is over £ 100.00

8. Choices staff and Shared Lives Carers should aim to support Individuals

to check their cash balances on a weekly basis. 9. Choices managers and Shared Lives Workers may need to check

Individuals accounts at reviews and Shared Lives quarterly monitoring visits .Some unannounced reviews may also be carried out by the schemes where concerns are raised.

10. Choices staff and Shared Lives Carers must not use secondary account

systems to record transactions 11. If Individuals have more than one account, an additional account book will

need to be completed


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Signature Sheet

This is a record of anyone involved in managing your money or named on your account Date entered: Name: Signature: Date signature

removed:


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ACCOUNT RECORD

Name: Sheet No:

Date: Reasons: Receipt No: Cash In:

Cash Out:

Cash Balance: Signature 1: Signature 2:

Brought Forward:

Balance Carried Forward £

grace eyre policies and procedures · c25 service user’s money valuables and financial affairs...

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