Contents

Introduction What are Direct Payments? How can Direct Payments be used? Can Direct Payments be used for Equipment? Who can have Direct Payments? Do Direct Payments affect welfare benefits? What responsibilities come with organising Direct Payments? Does Greenwich charge for services? Is there help available to organise Direct Payments? Further Information Compliments, Suggestions and Complaints

Introduction
This leaflet provides general information about Direct Payments. Direct Payments can help people, who need community care services, to have more control over their day-to-day lives. If you are not in receipt of community care services then you will need to be assessed. The information in this leaflet is intended as a guide only.

How can Direct Payments be used?

Adult & Older Peoples Services/Childrens Services can give Direct payments for all community care services they would normally arrange or provide. These include: Personal care (help with washing, dressing and eating meal) Practical help (shopping, cleaning, preparing meals) Respite care (a short stay in a residential home, carers break or short term placement) Daytime activities

Who can have Direct Payments

You may be able to get Direct Payments if you are 16 or over and have been assessed by Adult & Older Peoples Services/ Childrens Services as needing a service. If you have any kind of impairment you can get Direct Payments. For example: A physical disability A sensory disability A learning disability Mental ill-health Direct Payments are also available to older people, adult carers and people with parental responsibility for a disabled child. If you apply for Direct Payments you must be considered by Adult & Older Peoples Services/Childrens Services as being willing and able to manage the payments yourself or with assistance if necessary.

What are Direct Payments?

Direct Payments are cash payments made by local authorities to people who need community care services instead of services being arranged on their behalf. Direct Payments came about as a result of the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 and the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000, which gave local authorities the power to make such payments. Direct Payments are made so that individuals can arrange and purchase their own services. Control of the money is passed to individuals so that they can buy the support they have been assessed as needing. This can include employing Personal Assistants. Direct Payments are a way of ensuring that people who receive community care services have more control over their day-to-day lives. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2001 local authorities have a duty to offer Direct Payments to anyone who is eligible to receive services.

Can Direct Payments be used for equipment?

Direct Payments can be used be used to purchase items of equipment or for minor adaptations (e.g. bath aids etc). After a home visit by an approved assessor, an individual can make the choice to have the item provided by Adult & Older Peoples Services/Childrens Services or to receive the cash equivalent to buy the item themselves. There will be guidance and help available to assist people who choose to have Direct Payments.

Do Direct Payments affect welfare benefits?

Direct Payments are not considered as income when you are assessed for welfare benefits. Direct Payments will therefore be ignored in the calculation of income related social security benefits. The Inland Revenue will not regard Direct Payments as forming part of your taxable income.

What responsibilities come with organising Direct Payments?

There are several responsibilities associated with organising Direct Payments these include: Opening a separate bank or building society account (where necessary) Recruiting and employing workers Organising and managing your own workers Only purchasing the type of equipment identified by a Practitioner Making sure that relatives who live in the same household are not employed as personal assistants (except in exceptional circumstances) Keeping financial records and submitting returns to the council for monitoring purposes Making sure that you are using your Direct Payments to pay only for the services you have been assessed as needing

Is there help available to organise Direct Payments

The Council can provide a range of support, advice and assistance to people considering using Direct Payments. The Council can provide help to people using Direct Payments which includes ongoing assistance with: Recruitment e.g. job adverts, interviews etc Employment of workers e.g. job descriptions, contracts Payroll and financial management General advice and information Your Care Manager/Social Worker can provide further information about this service.

Compliments, Suggestions or Complaints

If you are not happy with any action or decision made by Adult & Older Peoples Services/Childrens Services, you can discuss it with your Care Manager/Social Worker or their Manager, they may be able to resolve the problem quickly. If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of this contact or you would like to discuss the problem with someone not involved in your case then you can call or write to: Adult & Older Peoples Services Customer Care & Complaints Officer 2nd Floor Riverside House (East) Woolwich High Street Woolwich SE18 6BU Email: adults-complaints@greenwich.gov.uk Childrens Services Complaints Manager 1st Floor Riverside House (East) Woolwich High Street Woolwich SE18 6BU Email: childrens.complaints@greenwich.gov.uk For further supplies of this leaflet please contact: Adult & Older Peoples Services Tel: 020 8921 3124

GREENWICH DIRECT PAYMENTS

Information on Direct Payments for older people, adults & children

Where can I find more information?

For further information about Direct Payments, please contact the Direct Payments Co-ordinator on 020 8921 3103/2489 If you believe that you are eligible for Community Care Services and you would like an assessment for Direct Payments please contact: Adult & Older Peoples Services Initial Contact Team (Adults) on 020 8921 2304 Childrens Services Initial Response & Assessment Team 020 8921 3172
2007

Does Greenwich charge for services?

Greenwich Council has a charging policy. Whether you receive Direct Payments or your services are arranged by Adult & Older Peoples Services/Childrens Services there will be a charge depending on your individual financial circumstances.

Adults & Older Peoples Services