| Reference | FOI 2025/1355 |
|---|---|
| Description | Personal health budget support services |
| Date Requested | 02/09/2025 |
| Date Replied | 22/09/2025 |
| Category | Continuing Health Care (CHC) |
1) Name of ICB
2) For each place in the ICB which has a commissioned provider of PHB support services:
a) Provide a copy of the service specificationb) What is the contract value?
c) What are the contract start and end dates?
d) List all groups of patients who access the service eg people eligible for adult continuing care funding
3) Give details of how PHB support and advice is provided in ICB places where there is no commissioned external provider of PHB services and advice
4) Give details of any frameworks which are used by patients to choose a PHB support and advice provider
a) Provide service specifications which underpin the activities of the providers on the framework
5) How does the ICB provide independent advocacy advice to people who hold a PHB or wish to hold a PHB?
a) Provide any relevant service specifications
6) Are there any places in the ICB which do not have access to either a commissioned PHB support service or a framework for people to choose a provider from?
a) If the answer to 5 is yes please give details of how people will get their PHB support and advice and independent advocacy services
| Locality | |
| Bolton | None |
| Bury | Bury Locality does not have a commissioned provider for PHB support. |
| HMR | spot purchase arrangement on case by case basis – CHC funded patients / joint funded children |
| Manchester | Has a contract with Disability Positive |
| Oldham | Children with a continuing care need |
| Salford | Children and adults eligible for a personal budget via a direct payment from NHS Greater Manchester (Salford locality) and Salford City Council |
| Stockport | Stockport locality does not have a commissioned provider of PHB support services |
| Tameside | People eligible for adult continuing care funding |
| Trafford | Adults CHC/MH/LD and CYP CC funded. |
| Wigan | Children’s Continuing Care and Adults Fully Funded Continuing Care. |
| Locality | |
| Bolton | None |
| Bury | Bury locality agree for those eligible to instruct a brokerage service of their choice to assist with support planning, recruitment, training etc as well as managing the PHB if they require. |
| HMR | Advice and support is offered in a variety of different ways; through the case management support from the patients’ named care co-ordinator. Upon request of a PHB, patients are provided with an approved list of brokerage services to choose a service that they would like to commission via their PHB and each PHB holder has a folder upon the start up of the PHB which has a variety of contact details for different organisations that can offer support. |
| Manchester | Advice and support through commissioned support |
| Oldham | N/A |
| Salford | N/A |
| Stockport | All Nursing staff are provided with PHB Training via the PHB Lead Nurse so that everyone has the knowledge to have PHB discussions |
| Tameside | GMICB – Tameside have a list of PHB Support Brokers who offer PHB Support and advice. Our own case managers can also offer support and advice with PHB’s |
| Trafford | External advice commissioned. |
| Wigan | There is no one external provider, NHS GM Wigan work collaboratively with Wigan Council Direct Payment Advisors to provide support and advice for patients. |
| Locality | 4 | a |
| Bolton | None | None |
| Bury | None | N/A |
| HMR | GM created a framework of approved providers which details the different services they offer which is shared with individuals | |
| Manchester | Services are brokered on individual need | |
| Oldham | We provide the PHB leaflet. **A PDF document was sent to the requester with this response. If you require a copy of the full response, together with the attachments, please contact NHS GM’s FOI team – nhsgm.foi@nhs.net.** |
Please see the attached leaflet |
| Salford | Services are brokered on individual need | |
| Stockport | Stockport locality do not have a framework | N/A |
| Tameside | No Framework | N/A |
| Trafford | Joint PHB Support Provider Framework in place for Brokerage, Accountancy, Payroll, Managed Accounts and Third Party support. | As above please contact STAR procurement |
| Wigan | There is no specific framework of providers for PHBs, please refer to response to Q3. | N/A |
| Locality | 5 | a |
| Bolton | refer to broker or advocacy service, share PHB information leaflets and websites | None |
| Bury | Bury locality request patients to instruct an independent brokerage service, who provide all support required (as per Q3) for those who hold a PHB or who are may considering a PHB. | No service specifications in place. |
| HMR | By referral to independent advocacy services in relation to PHB’s and if the individual requires independent advocacy as a result of mental capacity, a mental health advocacy referral would be completed by the CHC nurse | As we do not directly commission these services, we do not hold contracts or service specifications – the arrangement is between the brokerage service and the individual |
| Manchester | By referral to independent advocacy services in relation to PHB’s and if the individual requires independent advocacy as a result of mental capacity, a mental health advocacy referral would be completed by the CHC nurse | |
| Oldham | We do not provide independent advocacy; the client provides their independent advocacy. | We do not have any service specification |
| Salford | Mind In Salford are commissioned to provide advocacy services in Salford | **A word document wase sent to the requester with this response. If you require a copy of the full response, together with the attachments, please contact NHS GM’s FOI team – nhsgm.foi@nhs.net.** |
| Stockport | All patients who do not have a nominated person/representative are entitled to an independent advocate support via Stockport Advocacy Service. | We do not have a service spec |
| Tameside | Advice is available via the Independent Advocate – Voiceability | Not available – This service is commissioned by our Local Authority |
| Trafford | Via the Council list | Not available as these are held by Council commissioning partners |
| Wigan | The advocacy service is commissioned via Wigan Welfare that patients can access for advice in relation to PHBs. Patients can also contact the Direct Payment Advisors in the Local Authority. | We do not hold the service specification for Wigan Welfare |
| Locality | 6 | a |
| Bolton | Needs GM response | |
| Bury | None | As per Q3. Bury locality can link patients with brokerage services we have used previously is desired. |
| HMR | No | N/A |
| Manchester | Referral to the commissioned service | |
| Oldham | No | N/A |
| Salford | ||
| Stockport | Via referral to the commissioned service | |
| Tameside | See Q3 – Support and advice services are available. | N/A |
| Trafford | Via the Council list. | Not available as these are held by Council commissioning partners. |
| Wigan | Please refer to response to Question 5 | N/A |
