What support will I get to set up my direct payment?
The council will provide you with practical assistance in planning your support. You can also arrange to get help from someone you know such as a relative or a trusted friend.
If you choose to employ a personal assistant, the direct payments team can provide you with information, advice and guidance around;
- Recruitment
- Using a payroll agency
- Arranging employer’s liability insurance
- Meeting your other obligations as an employer.
One of these has the contact details and web page links of a range of independent organisations, where you can access impartial information, advice and guidance, to help you decide if direct payments are right for you.
Another has the contact details and web page links of known payroll and insurance providers who specialise in direct payments, if you are wishing to employ personal assistants.
There are also a number of web page links to Skills for Care, an independent charity who provides a wealth of information, resources and access to toolkits to help people using a direct payment.
If you employ a PA through your direct payment, you can access funding through Skills for Care to train you and your PA’s.
When I decided to have a Direct Payment I got plenty of support to set it up and it’s not difficult to manage. The benefits to me make it all worthwhile. - Newham resident
Monthly drop-in sessions for residents
We will be holding monthly drop-in sessons for residents so you can come along and speak to us about your financial assessment. This could include how we have worked this out for you, any information you wish tell us about, changes in circumstances, discuss your adult social care debt.
The Direct Payments team will also be available to provide information about the different types of direct payments you might be able to have under Adult Social Care or if you already have a direct payment, we can provide you with support on how to manage it well.
The first sessions will be on Wednesday 9th October at Beckton Library and Monday 14th October at Stratford Library from 10am - 3pm.
They will then be held every 2nd Monday of the month at Stratford Library and every 2nd Wednesday of the month at Beckton Library from 10am – 3pm.
