Social services - direct payments
Direct payments allow you to arrange and pay for your own care
and support services instead of us providing or arranging them for
you.
They are a way of giving people who need
social care services more independence, choice and control over the
way these services are provided or arranged. If you receive direct
payments, you can decide how your needs will be met, by whom and at
what times. You make arrangements directly, so any staff you employ
report directly you. If you employ an agency the agency will be
accountable to you not to the council.
They are not considered as income when you are
assessed for welfare benefits.
Who can have direct payments?
If you already get a social care service we will offer you the
option of direct payments instead of the services you get now.
If you do not get social care services you first need to
ask us to assess your needs. Social care services (and therefore
direct payments) are normally available if you are:
- Disabled and aged 16 or over
- A parent or carer aged 16 or over
(including people with parental responsibility for a disabled
child)
- An older person
If you have been refused social care services
If we have decided that you do not need social care services, we
will not offer you direct payments. If you think your needs or
circumstances have now changed, ask us for a new assessment.
What can I use direct payments for?
We can give you direct payments to use for all
the services we arrange or provide.
In some cases you may choose only to have
direct payments for some of these services.
These include:
- Personal care such as help with dressing,
washing or eating meals
- Practical care such as shopping, collecting
benefits or pensions, help preparing meals
- An opportunity for carers to have a break
from their caring responsibilities
- Day time activities
Here are some examples of the way direct
payments can be used to pay for services:
- To replace a whole care package or a mixed
package for example, by using an agency and your own personal
assistant together
- For short periods of residential care
- To employ staff (personal assistants or
support workers)
- To buy services from a care agency.
What responsibilities will I have?
If you decide to use direct payments you will
be responsible for arranging your own services which could
include:
- Recruiting and employing staff
- Organising and managing day to day tasks for
staff
- Opening a separate bank or building society
account
- Keeping records of payments and submitting
returns to the council
Is there help available?
If you already get a social care service
Contact your contact Adult Care Services or,
if you are the parent of a disabled child, the Team for Children
and Young People with Disabilities. Ask for an assessment for
direct payments. They will arrange for information and a visit from
a direct payments Advisor to explain more.
If you do not get a social care service
Again contact Adult Care Services or, if you
are the parent of a disabled child, the Team for Children and Young
People with Disabilities and ask for your needs to be
assessed. If you do need a care service, direct payments should be
one of the choices you are offered.