Adults who receive a direct payment are entitled to make their own decisions and to take risks in the same way that any other person is entitled to make choices involving risk. However safeguards should be put in place to prevent any potential abuse and to support the adult with making potentially hazardous decisions.

Adults who receive a direct payment may be at risk of abuse from family members, friends, carers, neighbours, professionals and strangers. Adults employing personal assistants (PAs) may be at greater risk of abuse depending on the level of rigour and pre-employment checks undertaken during the PA recruitment process.

Therefore adults who are in receipt of a direct payment must have a detailed support plan and annual care management review. This is to ensure that the direct payment is meeting their needs but also to assess and weigh up any risks with the adult and jointly agree and record these in the support plan including how the adult will be protected from exploitation of any type.