Direct Payments

Direct payments are cash payments made by the council to people receiving social care services, instead of the council providing the service directly. For example, if you have been assessed as needing a short breaks service, you have the right to request a direct payment instead. You can then use the money to make your own arrangements, for example by employing a carer/personal assistant to look after your disabled child in your home.

In Sheffield, working parents of disabled children can also receive direct payments to cover the additionality element of childcare (e.g. the cost of 1:1 support in a childcare setting) - please follow the link below to download a factsheet published by SNIPS.

Consultations

• Focus group on direct payments (November 2010) 
• Focus group on direct payments (January 2012)

Useful Links and Documents

• Direct payments for childcare (SNIPS factsheet)

• Information leaflet on specialist childminders and student practitioners (June 2011)

If you are looking to use direct payments to employ a carer for your disabled child, you may want to consider a specialist childminder or student practitioner.