DIRECT PAYMENTS

THE MIDDLESBROUGH

EXPERIENCE

What is a Direct Payment?• The Community Care (Direct Payments)

Act 1996 gives Local Authority Social Services Departments the power to make direct cash payments to individuals for community care services they have been assessed for. Direct Payments are a different way of fulfilling existing community care responsibilities

Legislation• Carers & Disabled Children’s Act 2000

• New Direct Payments Guidance 2003 , Community Care,Services for Carers and Children’s Services sees:

• Power to make direct payments becomes a duty to provide

• Key Performance Indicator from April 2004

Principles

• Empower service users with :-

- Independence

- Choices

- Partnership

- Flexibility

• Innovative ways of providing care needs

Receiving a Direct Payment?• Meet the criteria

• Willing and able to manage own care arrangements

• Assessment for a possible financial contribution under Council’s Fairer Charging Policy

• Open a designated bank account

• Agree to monitoring and review of the scheme

What can a Direct Payment be used for?

• Middlesbrough currently has provided service users with Direct Payments to meet need for:-

• Personal Care

• Day Care services

• Respite care

• Transport

• Access to social activities

What can’t a Direct Payment be used for

• Purchase services provided by the local authority

• Permanent residential /nursing care

• Health or Housing services

• Employ a close relative living in the same household

Monitoring & Review• Undertaken by local authority and the

Support Service to:-

• Ensure service users needs are being met

• Funding is being used appropriately

• Services for which payments have been made have been received

• Monitoring carried out monthly

• Audit of scheme quarterly

Support• Provide service users/carers with:-

• Access to information

• Access to independent support

• Access to advocacy

• Monitoring & Review

• Access to Payroll service

• Provide assurances for active involvement in emergency situations

Middlesbrough Scheme• Pilot Project commenced in July 2000

• First Service Users to receive Direct Payments started in Nov 2000

• 1 Physical Disability & 1 Learning Disability

• Contract for Support Service

Joint Review outcome• At the time of Joint Review towards the

end of 2001 Middlesbrough had 4 people receiving a Direct Payment

• Joint Review highlighted the “slow growth in the use of Direct Payments”

• Key point “Ensure the availability and advantages of DP are actively promoted to staff, service users and carers”

Joint Review outcome cont.• A need to understand why Middlesbrough

had only 4 people receiving a Direct Payments

• A Consultation Group was established including;

• Service Users, Carers

• Support Service representatives

• Social Workers

• Financial Services

Development • A Development Plan was produced

identifying 37 key points including:-• Training, Promotion, Processes and

Recruitment• 34 recommendations in the plan were

approved by Senior Managers• 29 recommendations have been delivered

to date• 5 remaining undelivered are in planning

stage

Current Position?• 37 service users currently receive a

Direct Payment

• 27 service users are looking to start the scheme and are in various stages of information, planning, recruitment and training. 15 of these are with Parents of Disabled Children

• 22 service users have cancelled the scheme due to admission to residential care, move out of the area, deaths

Support Service• Development of Support Service key to

successful implementation of the scheme• Independent advice from the Council• From the outset Middlesbrough have

contracted with a Support Service. This is with the Independent Living Project who have been the provider since the scheme commenced in November 2000.

• 2 Development Workers appointed for Middlesbrough

Support Service cont..• Provide advice,information, training and

practical assistance to service users and carers in considering and planning

• Monthly Newsletter• Access to Peer Support Groups• Provide training & support for operational

staff• Quality of service provided is inconsistent

due to level of skill and experience

Statistical Information• Of the 37 service users using the

scheme

• 18 Physical Disabilities

• 11 Learning Disabilities

• 3 Older Persons

• 1 Carer

• 2 Mental Health

• 2 Parents with Disabled Children

What is there still to do?• Direct Payments to be embedded in

mainstream/core business

• Capacity plan by reviewing the infra-structure

• Implement outstanding recommendations

• Evidence all Service Users are given the opportunity to make an informed choice.

What is there still to do?…cont.

• Continued consultation with all parties via the Consultation Group

• Continued training for operational staff

• Continued promotion of Direct Payments

• Review of the Support Service contract & service specification

Useful Contacts• Janet Blott , Financial Services

Manager

Tel 729248

• Fred Taylor, Performance Monitoring Officer Tel 729249

• Independent Living Project

Tel 01642 676777

DIRECT PAYMENTS

TO BE

CONTINUED…...