DisabilityCroydon - Direct Payments - Choosing Your Support

Direct Payments

Choosing Your Support

Direct Payments enable you to take control of your support.

If you need regular help from another person, a good way to take control of this is to employ your own Personal Assistant (hereafter referred to as PA).

However, your Care Manager can agree to any support you decide on, so long as it meets an assessed need — please discuss your plans and ideas with your care manager and your DPSS Advisor at the earliest opportunity.

What is a Personal Assistant (PA)?

A PA is someone who is employed by you to help you. Because you employ them, you are in charge of them and the work they do for you. A PA puts you in control.

You choose

Who you will have to work for you.
What time of day they help you.
Which tasks they do and when.
Where the help is given (at home or somewhere else you want to be).
How things are done.

Who can I employ as a Personal Assistant (PA)?

You can employ just about anyone, except your husband, wife or partner, or close relative who lives with you.

It's important to think carefully about whom to employ. There can be good reasons for not employing family and friends. Try to talk to other disabled people who employ PA's, or to your Direct Payments Advisor before making up your mind. Croydon Social Services provide policy guidelines on who you can employ from your own family — please ask your Direct Payments Advisor for this information.

Advertising can help you find a person who is just right for you and will be able to put your needs first during the hours they are working for you. If you decide to advertise, there is plenty of help and advice available from your DPSS.

What is a Home Care Agency?

A Home Care Agency is an organisation that can provide you with a PA who can carry out a range of personal assistance / support tasks (including nursing care) in your own home. They charge a fee for providing the service.

Agencies sometimes specialise in different types of work but they will usually try to provide any service that you require. However, you should discuss your particular needs with someone at the agency before deciding whether or not that agency would be the best one to suit your requirements.

Why would I want to use an Agency?

If you use an agency for all your services, you will still have choice and control over how your personal assistance needs are met but you will be relieved of all the administration related to employment, tax and National Insurance.

For further information and to download factsheets go the the Factsheets page.