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2. INTRODUCTION TO DIRECT PAYMENTS
What are direct payments?
Why would I want direct payments?
Can I get direct payments?
What can I use direct payments for?
Where can I go to buy the services I need?
Can I buy services from my local authority?
Can I buy residential care with my direct payments?
Can I use direct payments to employ my relatives?
3. GETTING DIRECT PAYMENTS
What do I have to do to get direct payments?
What if I am already receiving services arranged by my local authority?
What if my local authority has assessed my needs before but has not arranged
services for me?
What if the local authority has not previously assessed my needs?
If my local authority offers me direct payments, can I refuse?
What responsibilities will I have?
Where can I get help to manage direct payments?
Can I change how I spend my direct payments?
Will the local authority give me enough money to meet my needs?
What can I do if I think the payments are not enough?
Will I have to pay a part of the money for the services that I get direct payments
for?
Can I get direct payments for ‘Free Personal Care’?
How will I get the money?
If I decide to accept direct payments, where can I get help?
What do I need to do before I start receiving direct payments?
4. CONTRACTING WITH A SERVICE PROVIDER
What do I need to know about contracting with a service provider?
How do I choose a service provider?
5. BECOMING AN EMPLOYER
What do I need to know about employing my own staff?
How do I find people to employ?
How do I decide how much to pay people?
Do I need to prepare a job description?
What information should I ask applicants to provide?
How do I go about interviewing?
What should I do at the interview?
Will I need a contract with my employee(s)?
How can I get the best from my staff?
If I employ staff, what legal responsibilities might I have?
Can I contract with someone who is self-employed?
6. NOW YOU ARE RECEIVING DIRECT PAYMENTS...
What will happen in emergencies?
What if my needs change?
What if I don't need to spend all the money?
Will I need to keep records?
Will the local authority check on the services being provided?
What happens if I get into difficulties with direct payments?
Could I be asked to repay money?
What do I do if I no longer want to receive direct payments?
Who can I complain to if I am not happy with the service?
7. OTHER ISSUES
If I receive direct payments, can I still get payments from the Independent
Living Funds?
If I get direct payments, will the money count as income?
Where can I get further advice?
APPENDIX A: Other useful publications
APPENDIX B: Where to get more information about direct payments
APPENDIX C: Further sources of information
APPENDIX D: Employing staff
For further copies of this guide (free), please write to the following:
Direct Payments Scotland
27 Beaverhall Road
EDINBURGH
EH7 4JE
Or telephone: 0131 558 5200
Email: info@dpscotland.org.uk ;
www.dpscotland.org.uk
This guide is also available in Braille (SDPG/B) and audio tape (SDPG/A). These are also available free from the address above.
© Crown copyright 2003
Published by
The Scottish Executive
St Andrew’s House
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG