Centre for Independent Living - Belfast DHSSPS Four Health & - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Centre for Independent Living - Belfast

DHSSPS Four Health & Social Services Boards Belfast Health & Southern Health Western Health Social Care Trust & Social Care & Social Care Trust Trust South Eastern Northern Health Health & Social & Social Care Care Trust Trust

What are Direct Payments? Cash payments instead of Trust services Arrange your own support

“Direct Payments are means to an end. That end is Independent Living” (Hasler, Campbell & Zarb 1999)

Independent Living ‘the ability to be in control of and make decisions about one’s own life, rather than doing things alone or without help’ (Oliver, 1993)

History of Direct Payments Berkeley, California 1972 Hampshire 1982 Growth of CIL Movement Campaign for widespread ‘direct payments’ Direct Payments Legislation 1996

Direct Payments Non-institutional Support rather than care Quality of life Empowerment Value for money

Direct Payments Legislation Personal Social Services (Direct Payments) (NI) Order 1996 (April 1997) Carers & Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 (March 2003) (April 2004)

Carers & Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 over 16 year olds assessed as needing personal social services ‘willing and able’ to manage Direct Payments alone or with support not subject to certain mental health or criminal justice legislation

Carers & Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 disabled people older people who get services from the Trust disabled parents parents of disabled children carers for services to meet their own needs

Direct Payments can be used for Any personal social service (except for permanent residential care)

Direct Payments Process Assessment of need Consider option of Direct Payments Sign Agreement Open Bank Account Training & Support Recruit Staff Back-up Arrangements Record keeping/Monitoring/Review

How Direct Payments are used Employing own staff Contracting with an agency Self-employed? Mix of Direct Payments and Trust Services

Carers & Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002 Duty on Trusts to make a Direct Payment where requested and conditions met.

Benefits of Direct Payments Choice, control and flexibility Dignity, self-esteem, confidence Family, friends, relationships Work, study, community

Responsibilities Finding staff Being a good employer Looking after the money Legal responsibilities Back-up arrangements

CIL – BELFAST is run by and for disabled people and provides the following services: Information Advice Training Advocacy Peer Support Payroll Service

DP in Northern Ireland 877 users (DHSSPS Sept ’07) Direct Payments as a primary choice Lack of resources Risk assessments Vetting and regulation Government policy -Individual budgets

www.cilbelfast.org