Direct Payments

Direct payments aim to give people more choice and control over the care that they receive. Where an individual has been assessed as needing a social care service and they meet the eligibility criteria then instead of being provided with support directly, they are given the equivalent amount of money and are able to make their own decisions about how their care is provided.

The individual should have the capacity to manage a direct payment as this does give them responsibilities towards anyone that they employ to provide care for them. Help is available with the technicalities of managing a direct payment. Direct payments have been used by people with mental health difficulties, particularly where they need help at home or in undertaking activities outside the home.

Members of the mental health team will be able to provide information about direct payments and help the individual decide whether it is an good option.

Self-directed Support

Self-directed support is another approach to help people have more choice and control over the type of service they receive and how it is paid for. Self-directed support is much wider than direct payments.

Self-directed support is being introduced gradually across the country but a number of Councils (including Sheffield) are taking the lead. At this stage self-directed support is being piloted in mental health, but it should become more available during 2009/10.

Self-directed support will be based on a self assessment. This will give the individual an idea of the amount of the money they are entitled to, which is known as an individual budget. The individual will then draw up a support plan which will describe what they want their life to be like and what support they need to make this a reality. There should be help available for people with the self assessment and with drawing up the plan from, for example, an advocate or ‘broker’.

The plan will need to be ‘signed off’ by someone from the Council or mental health services to make sure that it meets the person’s needs and that any risks are managed. The plan will be reviewed regularly to make sure that it continues to meet identified needs.

These approaches can help people access a wider range of support than is currently offered by mental health services. Under self-directed support it will be possible for someone to spend their individual budget in a range of ways that best help them, provided that this meets their assessed needs. People will not be limited to existing services.

Overall, direct payments and self-directed support can be good way of helping people to lead a more fulfilling life.