Standards for direct payments
We aim to administer direct payments in a "customer friendly" way.
We will:
- request the minimum amount of information needed to check that you are using your payment correctly
- give you an information guide telling you how and when your payment is made and when you need to send information back to us
- pay you on time. If we fail to do this we will pay any reasonable bank charges that you are asked to pay
- ask your opinion about how your direct payment is managed
- train our staff to keep them up to date about direct payments
- extend the range of community care services that can be bought with direct payments. For example, respite care, day services, home care and occupational therapy services
- continue to fund the Direct Payments Support Service. This is so you can get independent support, information, advice and training in dealing with your payment
- work with the Direct Payments Support Service to provide good quality, up-to-date information on employment responsibilities and about local agencies. This will help you to make informed decisions about setting up services and employing you own staff
- link the hourly rate for the staff you employ through direct payments to the hourly rate paid to Adult Social Care and Health staff undertaking the same role
- respect the relationship between you as the employer and your employee(s).
- Remember that you are legally responsible for health and safety of the staff you employ and you need to pay their wages, income tax and national insurance on time
- Keep the accounts and records expected of you
- Send the information we need back to us every four months.
