1. Direct payments Care Act 2014

2. Direct payments 2 The Care Act 2014 Direct Payments Regulations Health and Social Care Act Direct Payments Act

3. Care and support planning 3

4. Making direct payments available 4 The availability of direct payments should be included in the local information and advice service, and set out:  What direct payments are  How to request one including the use of nominated and authorised persons to manage the payment  Explanation of the direct payment agreement  The responsibilities involved in managing a direct payment  Making arrangements with social care providers  Signposting to local organisations that can help anyone who agrees to manage a direct payment on behalf of the person with care needs someone who agrees to manage a direct payment for a person who lacks capacity

5. Considering the request for a direct payment 5 Things to consider AppropriateManagementSupport A specialist assessor Quickly Interim arrangements

6. Use of a direct payment 6 Flexibly and innovatively - no unreasonable restrictions Pre-payment cards Paying family members to manage the DP Short-term care in a care home Non- residential care in a care home Services from ‘another’ local authority Becoming an employer

7. Discontinuing direct payments  A recipient of direct payments may decide at any time that they no longer wish to continue receiving them  Direct payments should only be terminated by the local authority as a last resort  The local authority must ensure there is no gap in the provision of care support, and revise the plan  Where someone with capacity loses that capacity to consent, the local authority should discontinue direct payments to that person and consider making payments to an authorised person instead 7