Self-Directed Support (SDS) has transformed how people with learning disabilities and autistic people access and manage their care. By providing personal budgets, Direct Payments, and Individual Service Funds (ISFs), SDS enables people to shape their support in ways that work best for them.
However, while many individuals use their budgets to employ personal assistants (PAs) or purchase care services, joint purchasing and micro-commissioning – where people work together to organise and fund support – remains underutilised. Pooling resources and collectively commissioning services can increase choice, improve value for money, and offer greater flexibility.
Despite the benefits, people often face barriers such as a lack of structured guidance, inconsistent local authority policies, and administrative complexities. This article explores practical examples of micro-commissioning and joint purchasing using personal budgets, demonstrating how these approaches enhance independence and improve support.
What is Micro-Commissioning and Joint Purchasing?
Micro-commissioning involves individuals or small groups coming together to design and purchase services that meet their specific needs. It is a bottom-up approach where people directly shape what their support looks like, rather than relying on pre-existing services.
Joint purchasing allows individuals to combine part of their personal budgets to access shared support or services, making better use of available resources.
These approaches enable people to:
- Gain More Hours of Support – Shared arrangements can stretch budgets further.
- Create Tailored Support – Instead of being limited by standardised services, people commission what works for them.
- Employ Support Workers Together – Joint funding allows people to directly employ PAs or specialists who work across multiple people.
- Reduce Costs and Increase Efficiency – Sharing services helps keep individual costs lower while improving quality.
- Enhance Social Connection and Community Support – Shared arrangements naturally encourage friendship and social inclusion.
For example, three friends with learning disabilities could jointly employ a PA to support them in going to the gym, attending social events, or cooking together – all at a lower cost than if they hired separate support workers.
Examples
The following real-life examples show how people with learning disabilities and autistic people have used joint purchasing and micro-commissioning to improve their support and achieve better outcomes.
Example 1: Employing a Shared Personal Assistant for Community Activities
Situation:
Emma, 35, and Lucy, 40, both have learning disabilities and receive Direct Payments for support with community participation and independent living skills.
Challenge:
Their individual budgets only cover a few hours of one-to-one PA support per week, limiting their ability to engage in regular activities such as shopping, attending exercise classes, and going on day trips.
Solution:
Emma and Lucy pool part of their Direct Payments to employ a shared PA for 12 hours per week, instead of each having only 5 hours separately.
Outcomes:
- Greater continuity and flexibility of support – a PA they trust is available for more hours.
- Access to more community activities, improving social engagement.
- A cost-effective solution, reducing the pressure on individual budgets.
Example 2: Jointly Commissioning a Life Skills Coach
Situation:
Nathan, 28, and Adam, 32, are autistic and want to build skills in cooking, money management, and using public transport. They each receive ISFs managed by a support provider, but standard services do not provide specialist skill-building support.
Challenge:
Individually, they cannot afford a specialist life skills coach.
Solution:
Nathan and Adam micro-commission a life skills coach using their ISFs, pooling £50 each per week to fund a tailored 2-hour weekly session in their homes and community.
Outcomes:
- Targeted, personalised coaching rather than generic support.
- Improved independence in budgeting, cooking, and travel.
- A sustainable arrangement that grows with their needs.
Example 3: Setting Up a Peer-Supported Social Group
Situation:
Tom, 38, Ethan, 41, and Luke, 36, all live independently but struggle with loneliness and anxiety. Their ISFs focus on personal care and essential support, but not social inclusion.
Challenge:
One-to-one social support is expensive, and existing local services do not match their interests.
Solution:
The three men pool £30 per week each from their ISFs to commission a weekly social group, hiring a support worker to help them plan and attend activities such as bowling, cinema trips, and visits to cafés.
Outcomes:
- Increased confidence and improved mental wellbeing.
- A self-directed, meaningful social group built around their interests.
- More cost-effective and sustainable than individual support sessions.
Example 4: Joint Purchasing of Overnight Support
Situation:
Olivia, 45, and Sarah, 47, both have learning disabilities and require overnight support due to epilepsy. They live in the same apartment complex, but separate overnight carers are too expensive.
Challenge:
Neither can afford a full-time overnight support worker alone, and unpaid family care is unsustainable.
Solution:
They jointly purchase overnight support through their ISF provider, sharing a night-time support worker who rotates between their apartments.
Outcomes:
- Reliable overnight care without financial strain.
- Reduced pressure on family carers.
- A practical alternative to residential care.
Example 5: Micro-Commissioning a Specialist Support Worker for Health and Wellbeing
Situation:
Ben, Maria, and Kai each have Direct Payments for health and wellbeing support. They all want to improve fitness, mental health, and daily routines but cannot afford specialist support individually.
Challenge:
Private sessions with a personal trainer or mental health coach cost more than their budgets allow.
Solution:
They pool £40 per week each to hire a personal trainer who provides group exercise and wellbeing sessions twice a week.
Outcomes:
- Affordable access to structured fitness and mental wellbeing support.
- A social element that increases motivation and engagement.
- A sustainable long-term arrangement that fits within their Direct Payments.
Overcoming Barriers to Micro-Commissioning and Joint Purchasing
1. Local Authority Inconsistencies
- Some councils lack clear policies on joint purchasing, making approvals difficult.
- Local authorities should develop standard guidance and processes.
2. Administrative Complexity
- People and families often struggle with payroll, recruitment, and managing shared employment.
- Third-party providers or payroll agencies can help reduce complexity.
3. Resistance from Providers
- Some providers prefer traditional care models and do not support flexible, user-led commissioning.
- Commissioners should incentivise providers to offer more personalised, pooled support options.
Final thoughts
Micro-commissioning and joint purchasing using Direct Payments and ISFs offer a powerful way for people with learning disabilities and autistic people to shape their own support. By pooling budgets and working together, individuals can:
✅ Access more tailored and flexible support.
✅ Increase cost efficiency and make budgets go further.
✅ Create sustainable, long-term solutions that promote independence.
At SDS Network England, we believe that collaboration, creativity, and policy change are key to making self-directed support truly person-centred. By sharing best practices, advocating for micro-commissioning, and supporting individuals to take control of their budgets, we can help make joint purchasing a mainstream option.
Chris Watson
Chris Watson is the founder of Self Directed Futures, the Chair of SDS Network England and co-founder of LDA Commissioners Network. With extensive experience in strategic commissioning and change management, Chris advocates for innovative, community-led approaches to adult social care.
