The charging rates are normally reviewed annually in March to bring them in-line with the increased cost of care inspections (Care Quality Commission) and increased cost of employment.
If you do not qualify for the local authority help, you need to privately pay the cost of your care in full.

Help from Local Authority

Direct Payment

With Direct Payments, YOU can choose your care provider

If you are eligible to receive social care services from the council, you could choose to receive money to buy your own care. Giving you money instead of services will give you greater control over your life, because you make the decisions about how your care is provided.

“…You have a right to buy and manage your own care and your council must offer you the option of direct payments. With direct payments, the council pays you an agreed amount. You can then hire the care service of your choice. This could be a relative or friend, or you could employ a care agency to send care workers to your home.”

From: Paying for care - Care Quality Commission (CQC)

“…There are many agencies which provide care services. Purchasing services from an agency means that you do not have the responsibility of an employer, instead you have a contract with the agency.”

From: Department of Health’s guide to receiving direct payments from your local council

Using Direct Payments, you are not limited to a small number of care agencies selected by the council and you can purchase care from any of the reputable care agencies in your area.

For more information on how you can go with any agency of your choice visit:
www.direct.gov.uk , www.dh.gov.uk or your local Council's website and search for 'Direct Payments'.

Decide who you want to provide you the care:
The first step towards getting the care you need is to find out which agencies are available in your local area.. Not all agencies are the same and they provide a variety of social care services, so you need to identify one that is reputable, could satisfy your needs and are 'Value for Money'.

Assessment of your needs:
Once you've decided on how you would like the support, you need to ask for a social care assessment from the social services department of your Local Council. At the assessment, a social care specialist will discuss your needs with you so that the right support can be provided.

> For more information you need to contact the Council 

Ask for 'Direct Payments':
Once you've identified the agency that you want to provide you the care, you then need to ask for a social care assessment from the social services department of your Local Council. At the assessment, a specialist will discuss your needs with you so that the right financial support can be provided.

> For more information on 'Direct Payment' visit the Council's website  

Use the money and buy your care support:

If the assessment shows that you are eligible, the Department of Social Services will then prepare a Care Plan. At this point they need to explain all your options. Their preferred option is normally to choose an agency for you, however you could ask for 'Direct Payments' which provides you with the equivalent amount of money so you could go to the agency of your choice.

We can offer you a package of care that can meet your individual budget, while meeting your care needs. (see Step by Step Guide).

Alternatively you could employ your own care staff if you are capable of employing Care workers, pay their tax and National Insurance contributions, make provisions for when they are on holidays or off-sick and obtain the necessary Liability Insurance for them. To ensure your safety, you may also need to check their history with the Criminal Records Bureau via umbrella bodies.

Employ your own Care staff:
Our company could support you with the employment activities if you decide to employ your own care staff.

• We carry out the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks on the carer you selected.
• We calculate and deduct PAYE and N.I and deal with Inland revenue on your behalf and pay your staff directly into their bank or building society account.
• To enable you to have independence with security in your care at home, we provide the administration support.
• We Organise the required training for your selected staff
• We will act as the legal employer of the person selected by you.
• We provide the necessary reports to the Social Services for your Direct Payments.
• We provide a back-up carer when your carer is on holidays or off sick
• We review your needs regularly to ensure that your needs are met.

Community Care Act (Direct Payments) Act 1996, By Law you need to be offered 'Direct Payments'

Paying for care - CQC

Personalisation - Social Care Institute for excellence

Direct payments - Alzheimer's Society

Welcome to Sue's Direct Payments website

Direct payments, personal budgets and individual budgets