Direct Payments
What is a Direct Payment?
If you are currently in receipt of care and support via Social Services, a Direct Payment can be used a flexible and alternative way of having this service delivered.
A Direct Payment is cash payment given to you by the Council, so you are able to arrange your own care and support by employing a Personal Assistant (PA), but still with the support of the Council. This is a way of replacing a traditional package of care as usually put in place by the Local Authority.
By choosing a Direct Payment as a way of having your support delivered, it can mean:
- More choice and control over the type of services you receive, and who provides it.
- More flexibility in how and when the support is provided.
Downloads
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Direct Payments Information Booklet (PDF 671 KB)
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For Further information contact the Direct Payment Support Service:
Direct Payments are an option for anyone who has been assessed as having an eligible social care need.
This may include:
- Parents and carers aged 16 or over.
- People with parental responsibility for a child with disabilities.
- Adults with learning disabilities or mental health issues.
- Older adults with physical or sensory impairments.
If you, or the person you represent are already in receipt of a service, you can contact your Social Worker and explain you are interested in receiving your support via a direct payment.
If you have not been assessed then you will need to have a Social Work assessment to determine if you are eligible for services.
You can request an assessment by contacting Neath Port Talbot’s Single Point of Contact Team (SPOC), which covers both Adults and Children's Services.
A Direct Payment can be used for a number of different things, as long as it meets your assessed need.
You could employ a Personal Assistant (PA) of your choice to help you with:
- Tasks such as washing, dressing, shopping and cleaning.
- Getting out and about in the community to do what you enjoy.
Or
- You could use the money to buy one-off equipment that supports your needs.
- You can arrange your own support services from an agency.
The Direct Payment will be put in place to help to maximise your independence, health, wellbeing and safety.
For Further information contact the Direct Payment Support Service:
The role of Personal Assistant (PA) is flexible and rewarding role in social care, where you are employed to support an individual to live as independently as possible. The individual may have a learning disability, physical disability, or require support due to their age. No two jobs are the same.
The other benefits of becoming a PA is the flexible working hours, which can vary from 3 hours part time to 37 hours full time per week. The hours are arranged between you and the person you support, and can be during the weekdays, weekends or evenings. This can be beneficial if you have other commitments, such as childcare, studying or other employment.
A PA can be employed to support people with domestic chores such as cooking, cleaning and shopping. They can also be employed to support with Personal Care, such as washing and dressing.
But also, a PA is there to support the individual with what matters to them, such as going out for meals or to cafés, going to the cinema or social clubs, supporting with hobbies such as walking, gardening, going to the gym and many other social activities.
Being employed as a PA is a rewarding role, as you are making a big difference in the person’s life and helping them to achieve their individual outcomes and goals.
Or to find out more about becoming a PA, or specific jobs advertised, you can contact the Direct Payment Support Service on 01639 686812 or by emailing pa-registration@npt.gov.uk and quote the reference number of the job you are interested in.
Please note that the PA is employed by the individual via the Direct Payment, and not employed by Neath Port Talbot Council.
