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They are cash payments made directly to an individual so that they can make their own choices and decisions about how they receive their care. This is instead of the community care service they usually receive that is supplied by Social Services.
The payments can be used for:
Direct payments can be made to anyone, regardless of their age who is receiving or assessed as needing community care services.
Parents and adults with parental responsibility can receive the direct payments on behalf of a child who is under the age of 16.
Carers can also receive direct payments to manage the services that they receive
A person must be able to give their consent to receiving direct payments and be able to manage them, even if they need help to do this on a day-to-day basis.
Initially an assessment is carried out by social services to see if someone is elligible to receive direct payments.
Direct payments can be used to pay for community care services, housing support services or child services that you have been told you require after you have had your assessment.
You have to discuss and agree with your Social Worker/Care Manager what your direct payments can be used for (before or during your assessment)
Most people use direct payments to employ their own personal assistant (PA) to provide support in their home, which gives them more flexibility and independence than was possible with services arranged through the local authority.
Services could include:
There is alot to think about when you take on direct payments and get your Independent Living Fund.
Some people like to employ a care agency to assist them, while others prefer to recruit their own personal assistant (PA). Some people chose to use a combination of both to suit their needs.
A care agency is a company that can supply you with support workers. That means that you are not the employer as they are employed by the agency.
A privatey employed PA is a support worker that you employ yourself. This gives you full control over who will be assisting you and when they come which is something is not always possible when using an agency.
If you want more advice about which of these 2 options is best, you can find out more information by downloading this Independent Living Fund Leaflet call 'Employing PAs' www.ilf.org.uk/cms_media/files/5_employing_pas.pdf
If you are already using community care services, you should contact your Care Manager who can let you know more about the set-up process and assess your eligibility.
If you want more information about how direct payments can benefit you, you can contact your local support group. A list of support services for direct payments in your area can be found here
If you are enquiring about direct payments for the first time and are not currently using community care services, you will need to contact Social Services and arrange for an assessment. Contact information for your region can be found here
Your Care Manager from Social Services is obliged to offer you the option of direct payments in place of your current services. There are some limited circumstances where you are not given this choice and your council will be able to tell you about these.
Since April ‘03 direct payments must be offered by all social workers, to enable eligible service users to buy in their own care or support at home suited to their needs.
Contacts for setting up Direct Payments in your region
Here you will find names, addresses and contact details of social services and support services who can advise you further on how the scheme operates in your region.
