Direct Payments and Hackney Council, London

Djarova

Good afternoon all! I hope you are all well and enjoying the sunshine while it lasts.
I was wondering if there is someone who receives Direct Payments from Hackney Council in London and if they are allowed any hours for domestics, shopping,social and recreational activities? I have a very uncooperative social worker who keeps on telling me that only personal care can be included.
Thank you for reading my post.

hrafndot

Get some advice from another source, what you say is correct but it is very important that you fill in your self assessment correctly. You also need to investigate individual/personal budgets. Don't rely on the opinion of an uncooperative social worker. I'm only in the beginning of the process, but I looked at the Reading Council site as an example of best practice and telephoned the Independent Living Foundation and got very good advice. There isa LOT to learn, but it is SO worth doing well.

You need to investigate Hackney's procedures and, if necessary, invoke complaints procedures, but I personally think that the "charm offensive" approach is best; keep them on your side if you can. Take a look at the Department of Health website and the Direct Gov guidelines so that you have a template for what you should be looking for. good luck

karmacookie

Hi

I'm in Scotland. I've just applied for 2 jobs which were advertised through the local direct payments agency. Both posts state that no personal care is involved.

hrafndot

I think that Scotland is a seperate jurisdiction operating under different rules. However the Scottish Rules have always seemed even more sympathetic than the English ones. I would doubt that these preclude personal care from Direct Payments.

Here's an extract from the Reading site:

What can I use Direct Payments for? You can use the money to buy the support you need to meet the outcomes you identified through your Community Care assessment. For example:

• You could employ someone or use an agency to help you with things like:
  • Personal care (washing and dressing)
  • Help around your home (cleaning or laundry)
  • Day-to-day jobs (shopping or cooking meals)
  • Joining a club or a group
  • Social activities or day trips
• You could use the money to pay for respite breaks - you can choose where and when you go
• You could spend the money on other types of activities that will make a difference to your life. This could include things like:
  • Art therapy
  • Joining a gym
  • Childcare
  • Driving lessons
  • Horticultural therapy

If I want to employ my own support worker can I get background checks done?

Yes - Criminal records checks are compulsory for anyone employed to look after a child or young person (under 18 years) and highly recommended for anyone else. We can arrange these checks for you.

Can I get help to manage my Direct Payments?

Yes - the Direct Payments Team will help you set up your Direct Payments and offer ongoing support once everything is in place.
Why should I choose Direct Payments?

Direct Payments give you:

• more choice and flexibility - you choose the support you want
• more control - you make your own arrangements so you decide who provides the support you need, when you get it and how it is given
• greater independence - you don't need to rely on Community Care to manage your support services - you make the decisions.

Djarova

hrafndot wrote: »

Get some advice from another source, what you say is correct but it is very important that you fill in your self assessment correctly. You also need to investigate individual/personal budgets. Don't rely on the opinion of an uncooperative social worker. I'm only in the beginning of the process, but I looked at the Reading Council site as an example of best practice and telephoned the Independent Living Foundation and got very good advice. There isa LOT to learn, but it is SO worth doing well.

You need to investigate Hackney's procedures and, if necessary, invoke complaints procedures, but I personally think that the "charm offensive" approach is best; keep them on your side if you can. Take a look at the Department of Health website and the Direct Gov guidelines so that you have a template for what you should be looking for. good luck

Thank you Hrafndot. There is no self assessment here. I just had an assessment from a social worker. They don't do individual budgets yet. I telephoned their manager yesterday and he confirmed that only personal care can be included and unless you are terminally ill they can't include hours for help with cleaning, shopping, social, recreational, etc. I also called the Direct payments team and they gave me completely different information. So I am very confused and still trying to find out the truth...

eanie_meanie

Hi, I'm just going through a similar experience with my Dad. I've been told by his care manager that him and a few others are guinea pigs to be set up with individual budgets as their council (or is it all councils?) introduce them in April this year.

It's been really difficult to find information out, hrafndot, you mentioned the indepdent living foundation, I'm being dim, I can't find anything for them - do you have a link or contact details please?

Cheers

hrafndot

Sorry I'm late in responding, don' t seem to be getting alertsby email.

I am currently beginning in this learning process and so I will only be able to drip feed information on to this thread in a rather inelegant manner, bear with me!!

For a start, here is a link to the SCIE which is a website promoting best practice in social care. http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide10/index.asp
It describes good examples of how direct payments can be operated.
I will have to dig out a link to the Centre for Independent Living and will do that shortly

hrafndot

Here's a link to the National Centre for Independent Living. You will find ther website very helpful I got this information from the Direct.gov website so the government obviously approves!!

I am gradually learning that different councils operate their own systems and some are running pilot schemes which are governed by government policy. The best example of clear policy and good practice I have seen so far is Reading Council so I tend to use that as my template and then ask my provider, "Why aren't we doing this, etc.".

You also have to factor in the fact that you may end up speaking to someone who may be "makig up policy on the hoof", so it pays to be very methodical and persistent in your search for information!!

hrafndot

eanie_meanie wrote: »

Hi, I'm just going through a similar experience with my Dad. I've been told by his care manager that him and a few others are guinea pigs to be set up with individual budgets as their council (or is it all councils?) introduce them in April this year.

It's been really difficult to find information out, hrafndot, you mentioned the indepdent living foundation, I'm being dim, I can't find anything for them - do you have a link or contact details please?

Cheers

I have posted a link earlier in the thread, I have noted that there are quite a lot of similarly named organisations, I think that the time has probably come for a sticky containing key contact organisations etc. I think that we have some members who are rather good at this!!

hrafndot

Just remember that Direct Payments was designed to give people dignity and choice.

When I said "self assessment" earlier on, this is in keeping with the ambition of allowing people the dignity and autonomy of saying to Social Services "This is the disability I have" and "these are the tasks I need Assistance with". I realise that I need some time and resources for respite and/or recreation and socialisation.