What is a direct payment (DP)

If Adult Social Care has agreed that someone is eligible for support, they may be offered a personal budget. A way that the person can manage their personal budget is by receiving a direct payment (DP).

A direct payment is a cash amount based on the person’s agreed personal budget. Direct payments enable people to arrange and buy individually tailored care and support agreed in their care plan. This would enable them to live as independently as possible as they have choice and control over their own care and support.

When may a person receive a DP

Practitioners should be routinely offering a DP as part of day to day conversations with a resident. They do not need to wait until their next care review.

Also, a person may be able to request to have a DP set up at any point in their care journey.

A financial assessment (FA7) needs to be completed in advance of the DP being set up.

Attached is a map showing a sequence of actions and decision to take, starting from when a discussion about DP begins, to when a DP is in place.  The sequence of steps sets out the responsibilities at each stage of the process.

Who is eligible for a DP

A person who is eligible and consents to receiving a Direct Payment’s includes:

• adults with a mental, physical or learning disability
• those who provide unpaid care to adults with a mental, physical or learning disability
• an authorised person who agrees to manage a direct payment for a person who lacks capacity according to the Mental Capacity Act 2005
• a nominated person where the eligible person has capacity but does not wish to manage the Direct Payment themselves
• a person living in long-term residential care may receive Direct Payments for non-residential care services for example to try out independent living or for additional day activities.

Other roles that support with DP

In addition to Practitioners providing support with setting up a DP, there are other services and teams that are involved in other aspects of a DP.

• People Plus and their responsibilities
  

People Plus are the commissioned DP support service.

Once a DP is fully set up and in place, People Plus do not stay actively involved with ongoing DPs. However, they will offer advice and support whenever the DP recipient or the DP team contact them directly.

Further information about People Plus's role is available on the Practice Guide.

• Direct Payments Team’s responsibilities

The team monitors the DP 6 months after it has been set up to understand:
- how the DP is being managed
- any areas of concern
- what additional support the DP recipient requires.

The team coordinate completion of a signed Direct Payment Agreement that sets out expectations for the person managing the DP to ensure they are aware of their responsibilities.

The team is responsible for carrying regular checks on direct payments to ensure the money is spent in line with the agreed outcomes in a person’s support plan, and that public funds are properly accounted for.

Current direct payment rates (from 1st April 2024)

From April 2024 the standard direct payment rate (normally used to pay for personal assistants) is £18.80 per hour. 

From May 2024 the agency direct payment rate (used to pay homecare agencies to provide support) is £20.92 per hour. 

If you are on a rate that has been separately agreed this will not change.