Princess Royal Trust Dundee Carers Centre

Dundee and Angus Direct Payments Support Service

The purpose of a Direct Payment Support Service is to ensure that adequate advice, information and support are available to disabled people so that they may feel confident to undertake the complexities of using direct payments to employ and manage their own staff.

“Support services are perhaps the most fundamental part of a successful direct payment scheme” (Hasler et al, 1999)

 Independent / Voluntary Organisation.  WHY?

• Minimises involvement of statutory authorities in peoples lives

• Any confusion about local authority being the employer is reduced

• If there is a conflict of interest between the direct payment recipient and the local authority, the recipient is confident that the advice and support is dedicated to promoting their interests

 User Led Organisation. WHY?

• Peer support is a very important and effective way of building confidence

• Expertise, experience and understanding of some situations

• Relevant and appropriate provision of support

Partnership between Support Service and Local Authority

• Funded by local authority

• Offer training to local authority staff

• Keep local authority informed about problems experienced “on the ground”

• Referrals from local authority from interested people

 What support can the Direct Payments Support Service offer?

• Initial visit (prior to community care assessment if required)

• General advice and information regarding direct payments

• Support setting up and managing the direct payment

• Initial assistance with financial monitoring forms

• Assistance with administration and record keeping

• Assistance with recruitment (advertising, interviewing etc.)

• Assistance drawing up a job description

• Sample contracts of employment

• Good employment practice

• Legal responsibilities

• Peer support 

• Training e.g. employment law, health and safety, managing staff.

• Advice on employer / employee relationships

• Day to day queries

A payroll service which includes:

• Registration with Inland Revenue

• Calculation of time-sheets

• Provision of payslips

• Calculation for monthly/quarterly Collector of Taxes payments

• Provision of statutory forms and end of year returns

• Day to day queries

Please contact Vanessa Dallas-Ross for more information about Direct Payments in Dundee and Barbara Maguire for information about  Direct Payments in Angus.

e-mail:  directpayments@dundeecarerscentre.org.uk

Evaluation Reports

The Direct Payment Support Services were evaluated to assess their performance and to inform future developments.  Please contact us for a copy or read them here:

Dundee DPSS Evaluation

Angus DPSS Evaluation

Other Mechanisms of Support

Circle of Support

This is essentially a group of people who come together around an individual to find out what they want from life, and find ways of achieving that together. A carer (informal/unpaid) may be part of that Circle, but will be there to work with others to ensure that the individual’s expressed wishes and preferences are carried out. A Circle of Support can help an individual express their wishes and preferences in relation to services required via a direct payment.

Independent Living Fund

This is a legal entity, a Trust which is set up and is registered with the Inland Revenue. Trustees can manage funds, employ staff and access the person’s bank account. This type of trust works on the basis of collective decision-making and total transparency, again always keeping the individual’s expressed wishes and preferences at the heart of what they do.

Family and Friends

People may use informal support networks such as family and friends. There is no limit in the amount of support you can access. As long as the local authority is satisfied that the direct payment recipient is in control of how the money is used.

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