Direct Payments - Where can I go for information and practical help?

There are three main local sources of support for Direct Payments:

• your case worker,
• Cumbria Independent Direct Payments Advice and Support Service and
• Direct Payments Administrators.

Your case worker

Your case worker might be a social worker, occupational therapist or care coordinator.  This is the person who will carry out the initial assessment and who will discuss the different options with you. They will have experience of Direct Payments and how others like you have used them to design their own care plan. They will contact you regularly to check if all is going well and are able to help and advise you if:

• your needs or circumstances change;
• you want to make changes to how you spend your Direct Payment; and
• you need advice on any other matter.

Adult Social Care staff cannot advise you on employment matters.

Cumbria Independent Direct Payments Advice and Support Service

This is a service run by a local organisation and it is not part of Adult Social Care.  They can tell you about and support you with Direct Payments.

For example, they can explain:

• the different options for arranging your care services;
• the benefits for you of using Direct Payments;
• your responsibilities if you arrange your care using Direct Payments; and
• the terms and conditions for receiving Direct Payments.

They can give you practical support with:

• designing your own Direct Payment plan. This is your plan of how you would like your care needs met;
• setting up your Direct Payment bank account;
• advertising, recruiting and employing your own staff. If that is the option you choose; and
• filling in the forms and paperwork.

They have also produced a 15 minute promotional video called 'Who's the Boss - Taking Control with Direct Payments'.  The video includes a wide range of Direct Payments users talking about their experiences of using Direct Payments and how it has affected their lives.  If you live in Cumbria and would like to borrow a copy, contact the Direct Payments Advisers.

Direct Payments Administrators 

Adult Social Care also employs Direct Payments Administrators whose job it is to ensure that Direct Payments are properly accounted for. There is at least one in every local office. They can also offer you practical help with:

• the small amount of Direct Payment financial paperwork; and
• any questions you might have about the financial side of your Direct Payment.

For details of how to contact any of these, see the 'Contact details' box on the right hand side.