News
Direct Payments Q&A
17th November 2013
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We recently met with Amanda Hill (SNIPS service manager) and Liz Roe (Service Manager Strategy and Partnership) to discuss issues raised by parents in relation to Direct Payments. Here’s a summary:
Converting services into Direct Payments
Families have a right to receive Direct Payment instead of a social care service which they have been assessed as needing. The word “assessed” is important here; a service which is not based on an assessment (e.g. a SNIPS service accessed via a parent application form) does not qualify. Families who are accessing such a service must get Family CAF completed before they can convert the service into a Direct Payment.
Delays in setting up Direct Payments
Amanda said that delays usually occurred when families had trouble recruiting a Personal Assistant. For families who had already found a suitable person, the Direct Payment should take no longer than 6-8 weeks to set up. Parents also reported delays caused by staff filling in the wrong forms, or not passing on important information.
When can a request for Direct Payments be turned down?
Such a request can only be turned down if the Direct Payment would not meet the family’s assessed needs; for example, if the family was in a crisis situation and it would take too long to set up a Direct Payment. However, in such a situation it might be possible to agree an interim solution, such as using a PA from an agency while a long-term PA was being recruited.
Do families HAVE to accept a Direct Payment instead of a service?
No, Direct Payments are voluntary. Even if a service closes, users MUST be offered alternative services, not just Direct Payments.
Claw-back alert!
Families in receipt of Direct Payments should be aware that Sheffield City Council’s Audit Team is clawing back unspent money on a monthly basis. Where families want to accrue Direct Payments to use at a later date (e.g. during school holidays), this must be clearly recorded in the care plan to avoid a claw-back.
Some families have received letters from the Council which address their disabled child as if they were an adult who might have to make a contribution towards their social care services. This is incorrect, as children’s social care services are not means-tested.
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