Direct Payments are another way to get support to meet your personal and social needs. Instead of this support being provided by social services, you are given the money to set up services yourself. This can give you greater control over who will help you and in what way they do it. This may also fit in better with your lifestyle, giving you greater choice and flexibility.
Who can get Direct Payments?
Most people who have been assessed by social services as being eligible for care and support can receive a Direct Payment. We just need to be satisfied that you want and can manage a Direct Payment, with or without support from friends, family or our support service.
How can Direct Payments help me and how can they be used?
Setting up Direct Payments could help you to:
- recruit your own personal assistant rather than having whoever is sent to you
- arrange for your care to be delivered at different times to suit what you want to do
- attend different community based activities using your Direct Payment
If you choose to employ your own staff you can do this either through buying your services from a care agency or by directly employing your carers.
You can have all or part of your assessed needs met using Direct Payments. The payments must be managed safely and responsibly. They must achieve the outcomes set out in your care and support plan which is agreed with your social worker.
Carers can also arrange for the person they look after to stay at home with the support of a Direct Payment, so they can have a break.
What will it cost me?
Your financial circumstances will be assessed to see if you will have to pay towards your care needs. This is the same as for other social care services.
Extra information
Contact us about Direct Payments
If you’re interested and already receiving support services you can contact your social worker.
If you don’t receive a service you can contact us to request an assessment of your needs.
If you would simply like to find out more about how Direct Payments could work for you, you can contact us by emailing directpayments@wrexham.gov.uk.