A direct payment is a cash sum of money paid to you on behalf of your disabled child to purchase agreed support services and short breaks.
Direct payments give you more flexibility and choice to arrange and purchase services to meet your child's needs.
It is an alternative to receiving a commissioned service owned or arranged by us, such as Community Support Services or Residential Short Break Services.
Key information
To receive direct payments you will have had an assessment from Social Care that confirms your child's eligibility to services.
If you choose a direct payment you will be allocated a sum of money based on your child's assessed needs. This can be used to buy services that meet your child's needs and agreed outcomes as set out in their care/support plan.
Your responsibilities
As part of managing a direct payment you will be expected to provide monitoring to us of your spend for example receipts, bank statements etc.
Through paying someone to look after your child you may become an employer and as such need to be aware of issues of tax, National Insurance and insurance. However we will provide access to all the support that you will need.
There are certain things that you can and cannot buy with a direct payment. To find out more please read Frequently Asked Questions Direct Payments.pdf (163Kb) which will give you a quick and easy understanding of what can be purchased with a direct payment.
How we can help
Your social care worker will work with you and your child to agree appropriate provision and provide information on relevant services.
To help you manage your direct payments, we provide free access to Penderels who will give you information, support and advise in managing a direct payment and recruitment and retention issues. Penderels also offer payroll and supported accounts meaning that you can choose to take as much or as little responsibility in the process (there is a charge for this service).
To support disabled young people and their families to recruit personal assistants (who are paid through a direct payment) we commission an organisation called Cool2Care. Cool2Care is a childcare introductory service that recruits, screens and trains personal assistants (there is a charge for this service).
Free training for personal assistants
CSS Training Brochure 2013 - 2014.pdf (164Kb)
CSS Application Form - Final 2.pdf (47Kb)
KIDS eLearning Suite.pdf (20Kb)
LSCB training