Direct Payments

What are direct payments?

Direct payments are a way to give people with care needs and carers more independence, more choice of services and more control over their care.

Instead of having to use the services the council offers you, we can give you a regular payment to buy the care services of your choice that may be provided by an independent provider.

For example, many people who need home care services have employed their own personal assistant, or purchased home care from the agency of their choice, so that they get consistent services from people they trust and get along with.

Am I eligible for direct payments?

Direct payments are for people with care needs, including

• Adults with physical, sensory or neurological disabilities
• Parents of disabled children
• Older people
• People with mental health problems
• People with learning disabilities
• Carers

To be eligible for direct payments a social worker must have assessed your care needs and established that you are eligible for support from social services. You must also be able to give your consent to receive direct payments.

What can direct payments be used for?

Direct payments can be used to buy any services or equipment your social worker or occupational therapist has agreed that you need, including

• Employment of your own personal assistant
• Home care services from the agency of your choice
• Day care services
• Occupational therapy equipment
• Social, leisure, adult education and personal development activities
• Home catering and home shopping
• Help with transport
• Short term breaks or respite

If you are a carer who is eligible for carers' services, you can use direct payments to buy services or equipment that help you to continue in your caring role.

• Direct payments cannot buy permanent residential care
• Direct payments cannot be used to employ a family member who is already living in your household, unless there are exceptional circumstances

How does it work?

Social services will give you a regular payment to buy your own care. You will need to open a separate bank account and keep records of what you spend so that we can be sure you are getting the right care you need. We can give you all the help you need to be able to do this.

Direct payments are a substitute for council arranged services. They are not a benefit and they will not affect your other benefits or pension.

Southwark social services charging policy will apply to direct payments in the same way that it applies to services.

I am not sure if I can manage direct payments by myself. What help is available?

There are two types of assistance you can have to help you set up and manage direct payments: support services and third party assistance.

Support services

Southwark social services pay for a support service provided by an organisation called A4e. They can give you all the advice, information and practical assistance you need to set up and manage the payments, including help with recruitment and financial management. If you are eligible and interested in direct payments your social worker will refer you to a support worker.

Third party assistance

People who have limited ability to manage direct payments can nominate people they know and trust to help them. This person or group of people is called a third party. As long as the person with the care needs can indicate consent to receive direct payments, then they can still benefit from the independence that comes with direct payments by using a third party arrangement. The third party can even manage the money on the person's behalf in some cases.

With the agreement of your social worker, our support service can help you to set up a third party arrangement.

Where can I get more information?

You can contact your social worker or the social work duty desk by calling the relevant social care office and they will be able to assist you with direct payments.

For more information and advice contact us at the details below, or for advocacy you may like to contact the Southwark Disablement Association.

Contact

Direct payments service
Tel: 020 7820 5930
dpadmin@a4e.co.uk
Unit 3, The Coop Centre
11 Mowll Street
London
SW9 6BG