Adults, Health and Housing DPEG – ‘Policy Co-Production’ Session 1

Adults, Health and Housing Agenda Introductions. Purpose of Today. Principles of Direct Payments. What They Can and Cannot Be Used For. Subsistence Claims. Employing Relatives.

Adults, Health and Housing Welcomes, Introductions & Housekeeping Ian Kennard :| Direct Payments & Personal Budgets| ikennard@thurrock.gov.uk Ian Evans :| Director of Thurrock Coalition | ian@thurrockcoalition.co.uk

Adults, Health and Housing Purpose of Today? ‘To discuss and capture the thoughts of all on key elements or themes of Direct Payment policy so that we can co-produce a new, more appropriate document to improve the Direct Payment experience.’ In order to do this we must be: Open and honest. Listen and be respectful. Give each person the opportunity to express their views and opinions.

Adults, Health and Housing ‘Principles of Direct Payments’ Noun (Principles) – A rule or belief governing one’s behaviour ‘struggling to be true to their own principles’ Question to Groups: (Principles) – What rules or beliefs should govern our behaviour when using or providing Direct Payments? ‘Think bigger statements and goals that are sensible to apply’

Adults, Health and Housing ‘Principles of Direct Payments’ The current Direct Payment Principles are: Direct Payments are a way to encourage innovation and creativity in ways service users can meet their outcomes and this must be encouraged. The Direct Payment must be used to meet identified outcomes, but how this outcome is met does not need to be prescriptive. However, there needs to be some agreement about what is an appropriate way to spend public money.   Employees of the Council and recipients of a direct payment have a responsibility to obtain value for money when negotiating solutions to meet eligible needs. Any spending guidelines that apply to directly provided or commissioned services also apply to direct payments i.e. the direct payment must be at least as cost effective as other appropriate services that could otherwise be arranged by the Council to meet the person’s assessed needs.

Adults, Health and Housing What Can / Can’t They Be Used For? The Legal Stuff: The minimum requirements are that the public money is spent on goods or services that: Are legal (including legal requirements i.e. tax, National Living Wage). Which meet the customer's assessed eligible needs. Important to remember: In addition to these rules councils may insist that direct payments cannot be used on some specific goods and services, such as cleaning and transport. However: There is no power to impose these restrictions if the outcomes assessment has revealed an eligible need for them.

Adults, Health and Housing What Can / Can’t They Be Used For? Thinking about the principles we discussed earlier what do you think we could put in the policy to make the following clear: Examples of what Direct Payments can’t be used for. Examples of what Direct Payments can be used for. How do you think this information would be best present to individuals and practitioners?

Adults, Health and Housing Subsistence Claims The current Direct Payment Policy states that: The person in receipt of the Direct Payment should fund their access to the community resource and their own meals and drinks from their own funds. The Direct Payment can be used to fund the personal assistant (if required). The suggested amounts that can be claimed in these situations will be in accordance with Thurrock Council subsistence levels which are as follows: Breakfast: £6.75 Lunch: £9.25 Evening Meal: £12.00 Accommodation Allowance: £77.50 (maximum per night) Any exceptions should be agreed with a Team Manager. Local Authority workers can only claim subsistence payments when the individual is working outside their contracted hours.

Adults, Health and Housing Subsistence Claims What are you thoughts on subsistence rates do you: Feel these rates are fair and appropriate? If not what do you think it should be? Feel should be in the guidance that will allow flexibility? For example should this be put into the individual’s contracts of employment? Feel there should be restrictions on the usage of these, if so what do think would be appropriate?

Adults, Health and Housing Employing Relatives At present Direct Payment regulations prevent people from using direct payments to secure services from: A spouse (husband or wife). A partner (the other member of an unmarried couple with whom they live) A close relative (or their spouse or partner). If they live in the same household as the direct payment recipient. However there are exceptions in certain circumstances but these must be agreed by a Service Manager or Strategic Lead.  

Adults, Health and Housing Employing Relatives In groups can you answer the following: What would you define as an ‘exception’? Who should this decision rest with? Should these decisions be reviewed? If so how often?