Individualised Funding gives disabled people a way of directly managing their disability supports.
Individualised Funding (IF) enables clients to choose and manage their own support services. It allows greater flexibility, enabling people to tailor care to their unique needs and preferences – while maintaining independence, dignity, and control over how and by whom their support is delivered.
If you, or a loved one, has a disability and wants to…
- Enjoy greater choice and flexibility when designing your support plan.
- Have more control over how and when your support is provided.
- Choose your own IF host provider and select the staff who support you.
- Manage your disability supports in line with your own timeframes and schedules.
Then Individualised Funding may be right for you.
Angela has kindly shared her story about her experience with Visionwest’s Individualised Funding.
What can you use IF for?
- Personal Care: Help with showering, dressing, and grooming.
- Household Management: Assistance with meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, and shopping.
- Respite: Short breaks for primary caregivers, which can be in your home or at a facility.
Where is Visionwest's IF available?
- Northland.
- Auckland.
- Waikato
- Bay of Plenty & Gisborne.
- Rotorua & Taupō.
- Taranaki.
Can I receive IF support and also access Private Care services?
Yes. Sometimes support needs aren’t fully covered by IF. In these cases, Visionwest Home Healthcare can provide additional Private Home Care services.
Our team can guide you on the options that may be right for you.
Why choose Visionwest Home Healthcare?
Visionwest Home Healthcare is a support service provided by Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga, one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest not-for-profit community based Charitable Trusts.
Our home healthcare services are part of a wider network of supports, which include housing, food support, counselling, youth development, financial mentoring, early childhood care, and more. Every year, we support thousands of people facing isolation, poverty, and homelessness with compassion and manaakitanga.
With over 30 years of experience, Visionwest Home Healthcare provides safe, reliable, and empowering in-home care that helps clients retain independence and remain in the comfort of their own home.
Visionwest is an approved Individualised Funding host organisation. This means we understand how IF works and are trusted to provide support through the scheme. Our IF Coaches will work with you to discuss your needs, clarify your expectations, and develop a care plan that reflects your goals and unique circumstances.
How does IF work at Visionwest?
Once you have been referred to Visionwest, an IF Coach will talk to you about how you would like to manage and use your IF Budget. The IF Coach will provide you with information and advice tailored to your specific situation. This includes information that will help you:
- Employ staff/contract staff (if relevant).
- Pay relevant taxes.
- Access your IF budget to make purchases (such as school holiday programmes or other respite opportunities).
Your IF Coach will also work with you to establish a support plan and provide you with ideas of how to use your IF budget – the final decision is yours, however.
Can you use other Visionwest support services with IF?
Yes! Whether you need help with household tasks, personal care, medication oversight or respite care for your regular caregivers, you can use your Individualised Funding to engage the services of our professional network of over 1,200 qualified Support Workers to bring compassion, care, and kindness to your home.
Our Support Workers are fully trained and are chosen for their caring approach, kindness, and compassion. They will visit you in your home, working with your whānau and our Care Coordinators to ensure your support needs are being met. We also have Care Managers and Registered Nurses on hand to provide an extra layer of support as required.
They understand what you need and help you get there. Some give up their jobs to care for loved ones because they don’t know there’s help available. That’s why I tell people about Visionwest.
I want my son to do things on his own, to have as much independence as possible. Visionwest gave me hope, gave my son opportunities, and changed our lives for the best.
Don’t be discouraged when someone says no. Visionwest will help fight for you. Keep pushing and keep asking questions. Go to Visionwest. They’re like a big family who I’m grateful to have in my life.