Direct Payments for Children

Direct Payments are a way of arranging social care services for disabled children and young people and their families. A person with parental responsibility for a disabled child is given money to pay for the service instead of the local council arranging that service on their behalf.

While our other Direct Payments pages will provide you with lots of general information, this page signposts some Direct Payments publications and information specific to children as well as 16 and 17 year olds.

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In the Driving Seat - Direct Payments for your Child

In the Driving Seat – Direct Payments for your Child, published byScope, has been written to give you a good idea of what Direct Payments are and how to use them for your child.

It covers:

• How others have used Direct Payments
• Getting started
• The assessment
• What can I use Direct Payments for?
• What help can I get?
• Using an agency
• Employing someone directly
• Being an employer
• How much money should I get?

A Parent’s Guide to Direct Payments

A Parent’s Guide to Direct Payments published by Every Child Matters is one of the most comprehensive guides for people with parental responsibility for disabled children, who are considering using Direct Payments to purchase part or all of the services required by their child, including employing carers, purchasing equipment or local services.

It takes readers step by step through the employment process and ensures that they’re aware of all the pitfalls. It also aims to make sure parents employ the best person and use the best services for their child.

Topics covered include:

• Advertising and Shortlisting
• Interviewing
• Checks and References
• Contracts and Agreements
• Pay, National Insurance, tax and insurance
• Choosing a service and buying equipment
• Job description for a personal assistant
• Person profile for a personal assistant
• Interview Questions
• Application form for a personal assistant
• Sample contract for a personal assistant

Direct Payments for 16 and 17 Year Olds

There are some different issues to consider for 16 and 17 year olds who are thinking about Direct Payments or who already have Direct Payments and want to begin taking over the management of them for themselves.

Disabled young people aged 16 or over can manage Direct Payments themselves, if they want. Even doing a small part of this for themselves can help them get used to being independent.

Read more about Direct Payments for 16 and 17 year olds on the Every Child Matters website.

Also have a look at My Money, My Way published by Scope.

More Durham County Council Web Pages You may Find Useful

Services for Children Young People and Families

Disabled Children and their Families

Links to External Organisations and Information You may Find Useful

Every Child Matters

Every Child Matters: Change for Children is a new approach to the well-being of children and young people from birth to age 19. The programme places better outcomes for children firmly at the centre of all policies and approaches involving children's services

Scope
PO Box 833
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NY
Tel: 0808 8003333
Email: cphelpline@scope.org.uk.

Contact a Family
Support and advice to parents with disabled children and children with rare health conditions.
209-211 City Road
London
EC1V 1JN
Tel: 020 76088700
Fax: 020 76088701
Minicom 020 76088702
Helpline 0808 8083555 (10.00am-4.00pm, Mon-Fri)
Email: info@cafamily.org.uk.

Download this Information

Read our leaflet about Direct Payments for Children. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this information.

direct payments.pdf (2 pages, 212kb)