Direct Payments

1. What are Direct Payments?

A Direct Payment is money given to parents/carers or young people, by the authority, to enable them to buy in support that is assessed as being needed, instead of the authority providing that support through their own services i.e. short breaks or outreach services. Direct Payments do not affect benefits.

2. Who can get Direct Payments?

Those who have been assessed as meeting the criteria a short break and are:

• Parents of a child who is disabled under 18;
• Disabled young people (16-18).

3. How often are Direct Payments Made?

Direct Payments are paid in advance into a bank or building society account specifically set up for this purpose, as a one off payment or on a regular basis. If the direct payment is assessed as being needed at key times e.g. school holidays, then payment will be made accordingly.

4. What is the Process?

Click Here to view the Dorset CC Direct Payments Procedure.

5. Direct Payments Can be Spent on Employing a Personal Assistant (PA)

• To take the young person/child into the community to access an activity, support inclusion, going to a club etc;
• To work with the child directly within the home, to give parents and siblings a break;
• To stay overnight to give respite to parents (for children aged under 8 Regulations apply);
• Or a registered child minder or child home carer (for children aged under 8).

6. Direct Payments Can also be Spent On

• Using an approved agency to provide direct care to meet your child/family's needs;
• After school clubs and holiday play schemes for your disabled child;
• Residential overnight breaks for your disabled child;
• By agreement with the Team Manager for direct payments, any service which meets your assessed need for a short break.

7. Direct Payments Can Not be Spent On

• Employing someone without Disclosure and Barring Service and CPR checks or references;
• Any services already provided by the council e.g. Residential or Outreach support services.

8. Hospital Stays

When a child or young person under 16 yrs needs to go into hospital, the parent, carer or the person managing the Direct Payment, should advise the local authority straight away to discuss the continuation of the payment.

It is possible that the payment will continue for a time-limited period, if only to allow for the person managing the Direct Payment  to ensure that any contractual obligations around termination of the support can be met. However, there might also an issue of continuity of care post-discharge to consider in some instances.

Where a Young Person is 16 yrs or older and in receipt of Direct Payments, hospitalisation may not necessarily mean that the Direct Payments should cease. Guidance advises that consideration should be given by the local authority, the carer, the holder and NHS Trust to as to how the payments might be used to meet non-health needs or to ensure that the employment arrangements can be maintained. For example, the holder may prefer some personal care tasks to be undertaken by the carer rather than hospital staff. However, the personal care and medical input need to be tailored so as not to interfere with the medical treatment. (Terminating or suspending the carer’s employment may lead to a delay of continuity of care and a delay in discharge).

9. What are the Benefits of Direct Payments?

Direct Payments allow parents and young people greater choice flexibility and control, to employ their own workers at times convenient to them and in the way they wish, to provide an individual service to meet their needs.