A direct payment allows a person to receive money directly from the Council so that they can choose how and when they receive their support by making their own arrangements instead of the Council arranging their care services. This can give the person (who receives the care) much more flexibility and greater control over their care and support, but it comes with responsibilities. It means the person has more control and flexibility in choosing how and when they receive care and support as agreed in the Care and Support Plan, rather than needing to rely on the Council to do this for them. This can be a more creative way to meet the outcomes that matter to the person and can give more control over support and how it is delivered.

The way the Council will decide whether you need help or support because of age, disability or illness. Anyone who appears to have a need for care or support is entitled to a needs assessment. More information can be found on Shropshire Council’s Local Offer on this link Care Act assessment | Shropshire Council

The council will assess how caring affects your life, to see if whether there’s any support to help you as a carer. You are given the opportunity to think how caring makes a difference to your life, what support you already have and what you may need in future. More information about a carers assessment can be found here on Shropshire Councils Local Offer What is a carers' assessment? | Shropshire Council

Anyone who is eligible for social care support from the Council can ask for a direct payment and the Council must offer a direct payment to everyone who meets the eligibility criteria for one. The following things will be considered by the Council to make sure that a direct payment is the right solution: • Whether the person can make their own decisions about having and managing a direct payment (we call this having mental capacity to request and agree to a direct payment) • If the person is not able to make their own decision about a direct payment, then someone can manage it on their behalf (we call this an Authorised Person) • Whether the person (with capacity) would like someone else to manage the direct payment for them (we call this a Nominated Person) • The Council must be sure that the person who will deal with the direct payment can manage it (with support from others if required) • The Council must be sure that the use of a direct payment is the right way to meet the outcomes that matter to the person, which meet their assessed needs, and which were agreed in the Care and Support Plan. Outcomes are what is expected to be achieved by providing the right support to meet a person’s needs.

To receive direct payments, you will need a Care Act needs assessment or your carer can request support by having a carers assessment. An assessment will determine what support you require, which might include direct payments. To get an assessment from a member of the social care team you will need to contact the First Point of Contact on 0345 678 9044 to request an assessment or make an appointment at a Let’s Talk Local session in your local community. An assessment can be carried out in your home or at a Let’s Talk Local session.

The assessment will assess your needs and support as described in this leaflet pre-support-plan-jan21-r2-colour.pdf.

The social worker will the complete a Support Plan that will give outcomes and how these will be met. Direct Payments are agreed as part of achieving these outcomes.

Some people choose to employ Personal Assistants (PA) with their Direct Payment. Employing and managing staff can be daunting at first. However, with the right support and information, people employing PAs can have positive experience. Employing a PA allows you to have more choice and control over how your assessed needs are met. This factsheet explains some of your responsibilities and where to get more information, advice and support. The Skills for Care website provides more information on what is a Personal Assistant (PA) and what is involved if you want to use your direct payment to employ a PA: Support for individual employers and PAs this information is presented in a range of toolkits. If you are unable to access the Skills for Care website, you can call 0113 241 1275.
You do not have to approach this alone; you can be supported by the Direct Payment Support Team or if you prefer to be supported by someone else you can contact the Direct Payment Support Team to discuss other options. They will contact you with a step-by-step guide as to what happens and what you need to do next. The direct payment team can be contacted at direct.payments@shropshire.gov.uk

• A direct payment is a provision offered from a personal budget. • Direct payments are a service that is offered from Personal Budgets. Direct payments may be what is allocated to meet the outcomes or may a part of a package where other services are included. These other services can include – • Daytime support opportunities • Supported Living/Care providers • Personal Assistants • Assistive Technology (that the council cant already provide you with) • Self-employed care and support workers • Short breaks • Any mixture of the above A good resource to show how a personal budget is used and the choice you have available is shown on this webinar [ DSA Personal budgets Webinar - Final v2.pdf](C:\Users\denis\OneDrive\Documents\Direct Payments\DSA Personal budgets Webinar - Final v2.pdf)

• In Shropshire there is a PA Notice Board that PAs can place themselves on and direct payment users can advertise a position. This gives an opportunity for either side to give relevant information to help with the matching process. This service is only available for direct payment users if they are 18 over [Finding a PA | Shropshire Council](C:\Users\denis\OneDrive\Documents\Employing a PA\Finding a PA _ Shropshire Council.html)

• Finding a PA for someone under 18 can take longer. The search for a PA includes using the job centre, social media and The Skills for Care website have resources on recruiting a PA [ Recruiting a PA](C:\Users\denis\OneDrive\Documents\Employing a PA\Recruiting a PA.html)

• [Before your PA starts](C:\Users\denis\OneDrive\Documents\Employing a PA\Before your PA starts.html) on the Skills for Care website has useful information of things you should know before your PA starts work with you. Information includes different ways to pay your PA, insurance, health and safety, and contract of employment.