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