Support Brokerage began in Canada in the 1970s. It started because a group of disabled people were living in residential homes far away from their families and communities. Their families wanted to find a way to bring them home and make sure they had good support.
They wanted to be in control of the money and services which helped to support them. Support Brokerage did not come from Social Care or the Government. It started with people and families.
In 2012 Imagineer started as a small organisation to prove how Support Brokerage could help people in the UK to live great lives and get good support.This is a timeline of some of the things that have happened to bring Support Brokerage to the UK.
Support Brokerage is not a job. It’s a way of people working together to make things happen. The Support Broker works alongside the person and their network of support.
First, it starts with a conversation about what the person wants to change and achieve, working out how to get there and then planning out how to make it all happen.The person decides what the Support Broker does and how they will help.
Support Brokerage can help you to:
Support Brokers have lots of experience in helping people, and they know a lot about the health and social care system.
A Support Broker will listen to you and find out what you want to change or achieve. They will help you to explore your options and understand your rights. They can support you to meet new people and find out about new things to do.
They will help you to create a plan and make it happen!
Imagineer hosts the Support Brokerage Network, which is a community of practice for Support Brokers and those who practice the approaches of Self Directed Support.
To find out more about Support Brokerage, book our ‘Introduction to Support Brokerage’ webinar here:
