Post by Beryl on Apr 1, 2005 22:46:36 GMT
Direct Payments is the Government's latest legislation to Social Services and Health Departments for delivering Social Care. Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996.
www.bild.org.uk/pdfs/05faqs/dp.pdf
www.direct.gov.uk/Audiences/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/fs/en
Following a Community Care Assessment of Needs and a Financial Assessment, Service Users can then be given cash instead of carers to buy in their own care.
The Care provided must still fulfil and adhere to S/S definitions of Social Care ie. S/S money cannot be used to cover nursing tasks, the same as a carer cannot and is not insured to perform nursing tasks.
Different authorities have different ceilings on what an individual's personal financial contribution might be, some still cap and have a maximin contribution figure, some are less generous.
My experience for the Service User is that some Service Users have had a very positive experience of the system and it has truely transformed their lives, while others have struggled. For example, relationships between carer and service user turned sour is a very distressing and stressful experience, carers being sick with no safety net of a pool of carers to breach the gap or for one of my colleagues who used DP for her son, a carer who has maternity leave with pay.
Hiring people you know and trust is a wonderful step forward and in my opinion, long overdue, but advertising to the general public for anyone to respond, can be a scary and unsettling experience for a vulnerable person.
Many more agencies have now formed where carers have already been checked, trained to appropriate standards and are ready to be hired. This resource, in my opinion cuts out a lot of the possible downsides of the scheme, whilst still giving the service user control and the care remaining flexible.
Agencies to lead the Service User by the hand have also formed and one has usually run alongside or been contracted by the Local Authority. However, some are better than others.
The pressure is on and authorities are pushing to increase their DP takeups. 'Care in the Community.' was difficult to achieve as inhouse services were and are being more and more stretched by the growing older population.
Is Direct Payments the answer to all needs?
What are your thoughts, experiences and knowledge on this subject?
www.bild.org.uk/pdfs/05faqs/dp.pdf
www.direct.gov.uk/Audiences/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/fs/en
Following a Community Care Assessment of Needs and a Financial Assessment, Service Users can then be given cash instead of carers to buy in their own care.
The Care provided must still fulfil and adhere to S/S definitions of Social Care ie. S/S money cannot be used to cover nursing tasks, the same as a carer cannot and is not insured to perform nursing tasks.
Different authorities have different ceilings on what an individual's personal financial contribution might be, some still cap and have a maximin contribution figure, some are less generous.
My experience for the Service User is that some Service Users have had a very positive experience of the system and it has truely transformed their lives, while others have struggled. For example, relationships between carer and service user turned sour is a very distressing and stressful experience, carers being sick with no safety net of a pool of carers to breach the gap or for one of my colleagues who used DP for her son, a carer who has maternity leave with pay.
Hiring people you know and trust is a wonderful step forward and in my opinion, long overdue, but advertising to the general public for anyone to respond, can be a scary and unsettling experience for a vulnerable person.
Many more agencies have now formed where carers have already been checked, trained to appropriate standards and are ready to be hired. This resource, in my opinion cuts out a lot of the possible downsides of the scheme, whilst still giving the service user control and the care remaining flexible.
Agencies to lead the Service User by the hand have also formed and one has usually run alongside or been contracted by the Local Authority. However, some are better than others.
The pressure is on and authorities are pushing to increase their DP takeups. 'Care in the Community.' was difficult to achieve as inhouse services were and are being more and more stretched by the growing older population.
Is Direct Payments the answer to all needs?
What are your thoughts, experiences and knowledge on this subject?