What are Direct Payments?
Direct Payments are an important way of ensuring more people can continue to live
independently in their own homes. Giving you money instead of services will allow
you to have greater control over your life, because you make the decisions about how
your care is provided. With direct payments you can decide who you want to provide
your care services, purchasing the care for yourself to better suits your individual needs.
How can they help me?
Some people may not always find social services flexible enough to respond to
their needs, or some may feel that services lack in continuity. You may find that
the carer arranged by social services cannot come at the time you want. With direct
payments, you can arrange for someone to come whenever it suits you. If you receive
direct payments, you can decide how your needs will be met, by whom and at what time.
You are in control. You may make arrangements directly with a care provider, such as
Medico Home Care. In this example, the agency will be accountable to you, not the local
council.
Am I eligible?
Most people who already receive care and support via social services are eligible
for a direct payment. You must be assessed as "needing help". You must also be able to
manage the payments either on your own or with help. To have Direct Payments you must
want them and be able to show how you want to spend them.
How do I get Direct Payments?
Contact Social Services to find out what help you need. You can ask your Social Service
department for an assessment. You will be given the same amount that it would cost
Social Services to buy a service to meet your needs from independent providers of
care in your area.
How do I manage it?
With Direct Payments you pay someone called a personal assistant to support you
or you can get an agency such as Medico to arrange your support instead. You may have
to open a separate bank account just for your Direct Payment and it will be paid directly
into this account. You manage your Direct Payment by keeping a record of what you are
spending it on. You can ask your Personal Assistant or care worker to help you to log
your spending. You will need to keep your Direct Payment Bank statement and signed work
sheets if you employ staff. The Local Authority will assess how you are managing your
Direct Payment at regular intervals.
What if I am unable to manage my finances?
You may not be able to be involved in money management. There are organisations
such as local advocacy groups who can manage direct payment finances on your behalf.
You may wish to set up a trust fund. A trust fund is a commitment made by two or more
people, to manage your care arrangements and money using a written agreement. Advocacy
groups will be able to help you with trusts and issues related to managing direct payment
funds
How can Medico help?
MEDICO CAN GUIDE YOU THROUGH EACH STEP OF THE PROCESS…
- Put you in touch with your local social services team to start the process moving
- Become your provider of support staff and manage your compete package of care
- Put you in touch with advocacy groups such to help you arrange and organise the financial management of Direct Payments
- Answer your questions and concerns
For further information these websites may be useful:
Department of Health
To find your local branch click here
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