Direct Payment Support Service
COVID-19 Update (06.01.2021)
We are still delivering our service remotely and will be available via telephone and email during this time.
Do you employ PAs?
Regularly Updated Guidance from Skills for Care
Returning to work Risk Assessment
Council Guidance:
Click here for information on using your DP flexibly
Click here for information on employing family members
Government Guidance:
What is a Direct Payment?
Money is made available by Hammersmith and Fulham Council to individuals who are eligible for social care services. This is called a Direct Payment. A Direct Payment gives you the opportunity to purchase your own support. The goal is to empower you by giving you more flexibility, choice and control over how services are provided to you.
What is a Direct Payment?
Set Up
If you want to receive a Direct Payment your social worker or assessor will make a referral to us. From there, we can meet you in a convenient location (including your home) to support you in setting up and managing your Direct Payment. This can include:
- Options for managing your payments and staff
- Choosing a suitable agency or provider
- Paying for activities in your community
- Explaining how the Council monitors your payment
Recruiting a Personal Assistant
We can support you in hiring a personal assistant.
- We will help you write a job description outlining what kind of person you are looking for and detailing the tasks involved
- We can place adverts on job sites and set up a free profile on www.find-a-pa.co.uk
- We can also assist with interviews, references, DBS checks, setting up insurance and providing contracts of employment
Advice and Information
Are you thinking about using a Direct Payment, but would like more information? We will be here to any answer any questions you may have.
We can also:
- Introduce you to other people who use Direct Payments
- Signpost other helpful organisations
- Provide ongoing support while you are using your Direct Payment
Training
We can direct you and your personal assistant (PA) to any relevant training that may be needed.
Skills for Care have funding available for individual employers. We can help you apply for this funding. For more information, click here to visit their website.
We will also be delivering training sessions throughout the year, keep an eye on our website for more information
Direct Payment Peer Support Group
The Peer Support Group is facilitated and attended by people who receive a direct payment in Hammersmith and Fulham. They support each other in lots of ways. The meetings give you a chance to meet other DP recipients, raise concerns, share ideas and listen to speakers who are invited along to talk on different topics.
The group meet regularly at AoD’s offices on Lillie Road. They send information shared at each meeting to everyone who has signed up. This means that people who can’t attend don’t miss out!
Meetings are accessed via Zoom. Please contact us for the meeting link, we can also send you some guidance on how to use the platform.
If you are on Facebook, click here to join our Peer Support Facebook Group!
Contact:
T: 07534 483 253
Factsheets
We have created some useful factsheets, which are available in Easyread formats on request. These factsheets were co-produced with our partners Ruils and the Direct Payment Peer Support Group. We will continue to create more factsheets to help you understand Direct Payments and your employer responsibilities, so keep checking the website for updates. Click on the buttons below to download the factsheets.
