As a homecare provider, we at Everycare welcome the opportunity that Direct Payments brings.  Innovation will be given room to flourish, thinking “outside the box” will become the norm and sloppy care provision will simply be intolerable. To us, Direct Payments can enable an exciting transformation of publically funded care. Also, it is likely to have a positive knock-on effect on the provision of care to the private sector.

Anecdotally, the evidence suggests that recipients of Direct Payments love the system:

“The quality of my life has improved and I have regained much of my confidence. I can get out and do various activities, go to my whist club, the garden centre, the library and I am getting to grips with the internet! The support that direct payments gives me allows me to enjoy life like everyone else.”

“My personal budget has paid for training courses that have given me new work skills. In turn these skills have enabled me to be self-employed, which has been crucial to me given the long periods unemployment in my life.... My direct payments are the safety net behind me.”

“No longer do I look outside from behind curtains in my bungalow – I am now part of the world outside”. Source - Department of Health Sept 2009

We also know that the Government are making a big push to get Direct Payment more widely used:

“Direct Payments are fundamental to achieving the Government’s aim of increasing people’s independence, choice and control by providing personalised alternatives to the social care services offered by a council with social services responsibilities”. Source - Department of Health Sept 2009

However, only a very small proportion of potential beneficiaries take up Direct Payments. So what is stopping the stampede?

The problem is that the administration of the Direct Payments is down to the individual client. Forms need to be completed, a bank account needs to be set-up, and if you intend to use a “personal assistant”, you essentially become an employer with all the ensuing responsibility. This can all seem overwhelming and, to be frank, not worth the hassle, especially to somebody who is less confident or less able to cope. So far, the people who have adopted Direct Payments tend to be the physically disabled who have the mental capacity and the independence of mind to make it work.

We at Everycare do not believe the paper work should be a barrier and are willing to go the extra mile to make it happen. So, we actively support any client who wishes to set up their own Direct Payments scheme. We will work alongside other organisations involved in the process, but endeavour to compliment their expertise by giving a care providers perspective.

If we are the primary care provider we are in a position to assist in the maintenance of the financial records that need to be provided to the Local Authority. We will work closely with the client, their carer or relative, or indeed anyone who has power of attorney, to ensure that the whole process can be operated as smoothly as possible. At that point the client is in complete control.