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Organising your own care - Direct Payments

What is a Direct Payment?

A Direct Payment is money paid directly to you to enable you to arrange services to meet your individual care needs.

You could use your Direct Payment to:

• employ your own care staff
• pay an agency for your care
• arrange respite care services
• buy equipment
• have help with social activities

Why choose a Direct Payment?

Direct Payments give you control and choice about the services you receive. You can choose who provides services for you and how, when and where you receive services. This means you can:

• choose who you would like to have as your carer
• decide what time you would like your care
• choose to have extra care if and when you need it

Who can have a Direct Payment?

You are eligible to receive Direct Payments if you have been assessed as:

• having a care need
• you need equipment to help with your care needs
• you are a carer needing support to care for someone else
• you are a parent of a disabled child who is assessed as needing care
• you are a representative of somebody assessed as needing care

Who can’t have a Direct Payment?

There are only a small number of people who are unable to have a direct payment, including anyone:

• unable to understand what direct payments are
• serving a community sentence for a criminal offence
• a small section of people under the Mental Health Act 1983

I am interested in a direct payment, where can I get more information?

Please contact the Self Directed Support Team on 023 92288759.

What help is available with Self Directed Support?

We have a dedicated Direct Payment Support Service who are on hand to help with any questions you may have about direct payments.

From finding and interviewing carers to completing paperwork, our dedicated support staff are available to help you. Our support workers will come and visit at a time that suits you.

If you are referred to the direct payments support service, they will contact you to arrange a home visit where they will be able to explain the scheme in greater detail. You will then have time to consider the information and make a decision in your own time. If you decide you would like a direct payment, all you need to do is let your Care Manager or Social Worker know.

If you would like more information please do not hesitate to contact us.

Social Workers and Care Managers

Arranging your own care may at first seem rather daunting.  Your Social Worker/Care Manager will be able to spend time with you working out what type of support you require and make suggestions as to how you can arrange your care.  You will be able to best choose how to meet your needs, and help will be on hand should you need to make any changes to your support.

Self Direct Support does not mean that you are left on your own without support from Social Care. You may receive as much, or as little, assistance as you require.

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