Post on 24-May-2020
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.
DIRECT PAYMENTS PREPAID
CARD ACCOUNT
When an adult is eligible for funded social care the County Council will
assign them a monthly amount of money known as a ‘Personal Budget’.
Direct Payments are one way in which a Customer’s personal budget can be
delivered. This can be the entire personal budget or just a portion of it.
Instead of West Sussex County Council organising the services, an
amount of money is given directly to the Customer who is then able to
use it directly to meet their social care needs and help achieve the
outcomes (goals) as agreed in their Support Plan.
Direct Payments can only be made with the Customer where they are able to
understand all of the information relevant to that decision and give
their consent. This is known as having the Mental Capacity to make the
decision. If the Customer loses capacity on a long-term or permanent
basis the County Council must be informed.
The information booklet “Your life, your choice” explains how social care
works in West Sussex.
West Sussex County Council Direct Payment Prepaid card account Agreement
This Agreement is between: West Sussex County Council
And:
(Referred to as the ‘Customer’)
whose address is:
The Agreement is that West Sussex County Council will make payments
to the Customer, who will use the money to pay for the assistance and
support they need as set out in their Assessment and Support Plan.
In entering into this Agreement, the Customer agrees to carry out the
responsibilities involved in managing Direct Payments. These include:
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(a) Ensuring that Direct Payments are used lawfully;
(b) Making sure that the money is used effectively to meet the agreed
outcomes as set out in their Assessment and Support Plan;
(c) Ensuring this is affordable by spending money that is loaded onto your prepaid card and keeping within the agreed Personal Budget.
(d) Provide the County Council when required with evidence of how their
Direct Payment has been spent in the form of receipts, invoices, payments of wages to workers.
(e) To be aware that any unspent or un-used money will be reclaimed by the Council following due process.
(f) Informing the County Council if the Customer is no longer able
to manage the Direct Payments.
(g) Paying any set contributions or top ups on to the prepaid card account on a four weekly basis.
The County Council and the Customer are required to keep to the terms
and conditions set out in this Agreement.
The Amount of the Direct Payment
The amount of money the County Council pays to the Customer will be
based on their Personal Budget. The Personal Budget may change over
time:
• To reflect inflation;
• If the Customer’s needs change;
• If the Support Plan is altered after a review or re-assessment of the
Customer’s needs; or
• If there are legal changes e.g. a rise in the minimum wage.
The County Council will confirm in writing any change in the amount of
the Direct Payments by post giving 28 days’ notice of any alteration.
A change in the amount of the Direct Payments does not alter the
conditions of this Agreement.
Know Your Customer
It is a requirement from the card provider, Allpay which operates under
Mastercard Licence that the Council must carry out Know Your Customer
due diligence on all primary and supplementary card-users. Know Your
Customer checks involve the identification and verification of the card
user along with their address. Before Allpay issues a Prepaid card the
Council will, on behalf of the card provider:
Check the Customer’s proof of identity
Check the Customer’s proof of address
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Check the Customer’s National Insurance Number.
Please refer to the Know Your Customer Checks Template.
Receiving Direct Payments
The Customer has confirmed that they are willing to receive Direct
Payments and that they are able to manage them either on their own or
with assistance.
Understanding the terms and conditions of this Agreement
The social or health care worker has explained the contents of the Direct
Payments Agreement Terms and Conditions to the Customer who
confirms that they understand and will adhere to them.
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Schedule 1
Additional Conditions (only to be completed where appropriate)
The County Council is applying the following additional condition(s), which
it considers are reasonable and necessary. The social or health care worker
has explained to the Customer why the additional condition(s) is/are being
made.
Customer Supplementary Card Holder (para. 1.2) (only to be
completed where appropriate)
The Customer has chosen to nominate the person named below to be a
supplementary Prepaid card account holder and to administer card
payments on their behalf and only as directed by the Customer.
The Customer must understand and take responsibility for ensuring any
additional card holder uses the Prepaid card in the manner and for the
purposes agreed in the Care and Support Plan. In the event of the Prepaid
card being misused by the additional card holder(s) the Council will not be
responsible for any losses incurred by the Customer.
Name:
(print)
Signature:
Address:
Card Account and Admin Service (only to be completed
where appropriate)
The Customer has chosen to have a Direct Payment Support Service to
support them with the administration of their Direct Payment Prepaid Card
account.
Name:
(print)
Address:
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Potential Suitable Person (para 2.2) (only to be completed where
appropriate)
Should the Customer ever lose the Mental Capacity to manage the Direct
Payment then they would prefer the following person to be appointed as
their Suitable Person.
Name:
(print)
Address:
Name of Support and Advice Service Provider Worker (para 9):
Name:
(print)
Organisation:
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Direct Payment Agreement Terms and Conditions
1. Management of Direct Payments
1.1 The management of Direct Payments can either be carried out by the Customer or they can choose to have some assistance. If they are
having assistance from a professional service then this will be stated
in the Support Plan along with any cost attached to this provision.
1.2 Any Supplementary Cardholder that has agreed to provide assistance
to the Customer must be identified in schedule two of this agreement.
2. Mental Capacity
2.1 In order to receive the Direct Payment the Customer must be able to
understand and agree to the decision. If appropriate this will be
determined by an assessment under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Should the Customer ever lose the Mental Capacity to understand
and manage Direct Payment their Supplementary Cardholder family
or friend must inform the County Council as soon as is possible. A
‘Direct Payment to a Suitable Person’ could then be arranged. If the
Customer should then regain the Mental Capacity then a Direct
Payment to them can be resumed.
2.2 A potential Suitable Person can be identified in Schedule 1, this will
then be referred to should the Customer ever lose the Mental
Capacity to manage Direct Payments.
3. Prepaid card account and Record Keeping
3.1 The Customer will be allocated a prepaid card account and can pay for
services either by telephone, online bank transfer or through direct
debits and standing orders. The prepaid card account will work in the
same way as any other bank card except that money will be loaded by
West Sussex County Council (WSCC). The Customer will only be able to
use the money that is loaded onto the prepaid card account as there is
no overdraft facility.
3.2 You will be unable to withdraw cash from your prepaid card account
unless this has been agreed as part of your support plan and the ATM
facility has been switched on for your card.
3.3 For some Customers it will be agreed that they will make their own
financial contribution towards their social care services, and others
may voluntarily choose to pay extra money towards their care in order
to fund further services that do not form part of their Assessment or
Support Plan this is called a ‘top up’.
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3.3.1 Unless a different arrangement is agreed by the County Council in
Schedule 1, the Customer will set up a Standing Order to pay the
assessed contribution, onto their prepaid card account every four
weeks. The Customer is asked to make clear on the payment reference
that the payment is their ‘Customer contribution’.
3.3.2 Where a ‘top up’ has been agreed, the Customer and/or any
necessary third party will set up a Standing Order to pay their money
onto their Direct Payment prepaid card account. The Customer is
requested to make clear on the payment reference that this is a ‘DP
top-up’
3.4 The Customer and the Council will have access to an online portal
system to monitor card activity and spend. If the Customer cannot
access facilities for online banking, they can request a copy of their
monthly statement from the prepaid card supplier.
3.5 The Council has a duty of care to ensure the Customer is achieving the
outcomes that have been agreed on your support plan, that the
charges the Customer incurs are reasonable and that Council funds
are being used effectively. The Council will not normally require or
request documentation for a transaction that appears on the card
account that clearly identifies the service and is within the support
plan that’s been agreed.
3.6 Should further clarity be required on activity on the account the
County Council may ask the Customer to give them additional
information about how they have spent the Direct Payment and the
Customer is obliged to provide it. The Customer is required to provide
as much information as possible within 10 working days of the request
to ensure that this duty of care can be discharged by the Council.
3.7 The Customer must retain all receipts for payment of wages to workers
as well as all documentation related to such employment: this will
include copies of receipts and invoices relating to purchases made from
their Direct Payment prepaid card account.
3.8 In the event that fraud, abuse or misuse is suspected the Council may
refer the matter to Internal Audit for investigation and offer support to
the Customer to reduce the risk of further loss occurring. The Council
shall refer any potential criminal activity to the Police for further
investigation and reserve the right to prosecute where fraud is
suspected to have taken place.
3.9 The Council will not be responsible for any losses incurred by the
Customer and will not therefore reimburse the Customer unless or
until they have been cleared of any involvement in the loss.
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4. West Sussex County Council making the Direct Payments
4.1 The County Council will pay the Direct Payment onto a prepaid card
account. They will write/email the Customer to tell them the dates on
which the payments will be made. This will usually be every four weeks
in advance. In the event that a different arrangement is required, this
will be agreed between the Customer and the County Council and
recorded in Schedule 1 of this Agreement.
5. Using the Direct Payments
5.1 The Customer will only use the Direct Payments to meet the needs and
outcomes as set out in their Assessment and Support Plan and not for
anything else. The Customer takes responsibility and is accountable to
the County Council for the way in which the money is spent and the
support choices they make.
5.2 If a Customer wishes to meet their outcomes in a substantially
different way from that agreed in their Assessment and Support Plan
they must first discuss this with their social or health care worker in
order to consider whether a formal Review or Reassessment is
required.
5.3 The County Council will not permit extended use of Direct Payments outside the United Kingdom without their written agreement. If the
Customer is leaving the country for longer than four weeks then they must contact their social or health care worker to discuss this.
5.4 Direct Payments cannot be used for:
• Health care;
• General household bills and living costs - including rent;
• To purchase a County Council service; or
• Long-term residential or nursing care.
5.5 Customers who have respite identified as part of their Support Plan
can accrue (build up) money to pay for a respite stay. However, the
Customer must take account of the following:
(a) Direct Payments can be used for Personal Assistants’ care costs;
(b) Requests to pay for Personal Assistants’ travel and
accommodation costs will need to be discussed and agreed with
the Council in advance. This includes family carers;
(c) Direct Payments cannot be used to pay for family members
or friends to come on holiday;
(d) Direct Payments cannot be used to pay incidental respite
expenses, such as for food and drinks.
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6. Build-up of money in the Direct Payments account
6.1 The Customer can build up a balance on their Direct Payments prepaid
card account equal to eight weeks’ worth of their weekly Direct
Payment. This is called an accrual and is usually accrued for
contingency planning. Any amount above the eight weeks’ accrual is
regarded as a surplus and will be reclaimed by the County Council
unless the reason for the surplus has been discussed and agreed with
the social or health care worker.
7. Repaying Direct Payments money
7.1 In some circumstances, the Customer may be asked to repay some
or all of the Direct Payments to the County Council. This will happen if:
• It appears that the money has not been used for the agreed
purpose and to meet the agreed outcomes;
• The account balance is in surplus as mentioned in 6;
• There is an accidental overpayment;
• There is illegal activity;
• The Customer fails to submit the required records when requested;
• The Direct Payment comes to an end and there is money left in the
account.
7.2 In the event of the death of the Customer the Direct Payments will be
discontinued and the card suspended with effect from the date of death and
does not form part of any person’s estate and any remaining balance, after
deduction for any outstanding payments, in the account will be returned to
the County Council by the estate executor.
7.3 Where there are outstanding commitments from the account for such
things as Personal Assistant’ wages, or tax and National Insurance bills,
the Customer’s estate executor will need to inform the Council. Before
the County Council make additional funds available to meet legal
obligations evidence of the need for the payment will need to be shown.
7.4 Funds in the Direct Payment account cannot be used to cover the
deceased Customer’s funeral and associated costs. The Department of
Work and Pensions can provide details about how to qualify for a funeral
fund.
7.5 Any top ups or additional payments made to the account are to be
spent first. Any money left on the prepaid card account at closure, after
meeting any bills or charges is solely the County Council’s Direct Payment
and must be returned.
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8. Suspending or Stopping Direct Payments
8.1 The Customer can choose to end the Direct Payments at any time.
To end the Direct Payments they should advise the social or health care
worker of this decision in writing, giving at least four weeks’ notice.
8.2 The County Council may suspend or stop Direct Payments if: • It appears that the money has not been used for the agreed
purpose;
• The Customer’s need for the support can no longer be met through
Direct Payments;
• The terms and conditions of this Agreement have not been met;
• The Customer is unable to continue to consent to the Direct
Payments;
• The Customer is no longer capable of managing the Direct
Payments (even with assistance);
• The Customer no longer has a level of social care need that meets
the national eligibility criteria; • The Customer becomes ineligible for Direct Payments, because of
certain conditions or requirements placed on them by the Courts;
• The Customer has certain conditions placed on them under the
Mental Health Act 1983; or
• The Direct Payments were received by the Customer to meet
outcomes agreed for a specified short term outcomes which have been met.
8.3 If Direct Payments are suspended or stopped for any reason, but
the Customer still needs social care services, these will be arranged by
the County Council.
8.4 If the Customer is admitted into hospital, the County Council will
consider with the Customer whether Direct Payments should continue.
9. Using Registered Domiciliary Care Agencies
9.1 If the Customer is receiving personal care services from a Domiciliary
Care Agency, it is strongly recommended that the agency is registered with
the Care Quality Commission. Domiciliary care providers can be viewed on
our website www.westsussexconnecttosupport.org (click on
‘Search and shop for support’ tile).
9.2 The Customer and the domiciliary care service provider will have a
contractual arrangement, which should include provision, and may include a
notice period requirement, for ending the service. Any contract drawn
up is a private agreement between the independent care provider and the
Customer; this includes the rates at which the service is charged. The
Customer will pay the service provider any notice period fees; if they do
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not have enough in their account then the County Council may give them
the minimum amount required minus any amount accrued in the account.
9.3 If the Customer is using live-in 24 hour care via a registered
Domiciliary Care Agency the contractual arrangement would reasonably
include care costs and live-in carer expenses. Where meals are shared
between the Customer and live-in carer the expectation should be that
the costs will be shared and agreed on a case by case basis.
10. Employing Personal Assistants (this section is only relevant to
Customers who choose to directly employ a Personal
Assistant with their Direct Payment.)
10.1 Where the Customer uses Direct Payments to employ a Personal
Assistant, they must meet their obligations under employment, tax,
National Insurance, and pension law requirements, and keep records
accordingly. If asked by the County Council, the Customer will provide
copies of these records.
10.2 Where the Customer is engaging personal assistants they should
liaise with the Direct Payment Support Service Personal Assistant
Engagement Support Service (PAES). This is to obtain information and
advice on the costs related to engaging personal assistants, health and
safety equipment, employers’ liability insurance and additional services,
(e.g. payroll, administration services, pensions), etc.
10.3 The Direct Payment Support Service can provide a support planning
service, and a prepaid card account support service, but these are not
included in the County Council’s contract with them. The cost of these
services will be met directly by the Customer’ own finances or Personal
Budget.
10.4 The Customer will be expected to pay for relevant employment
costs out of their Direct Payments, for example:
• Employer's liability insurance;
• Payroll services (where needed);
• Health and safety items (equipment);
• Personal Assistant expenses (where needed);
• Tax and insurance, holiday pay etc.;
• Additional car insurance;
• Recruitment expenses (where needed);
• Pension Contributions (where necessary); and
• Other employment related costs.
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This list is not exhaustive and the Direct Payment Support Service will
be expected to advise the Customer regarding any further costs.
10.5 Where a Personal Assistant becomes entitled to a statutory
redundancy payment, the calculated minimum cost minus any accrual in
the account will be paid to the Customer by the County Council. The
Customer will then be responsible for paying the minimum statutory
redundancy payment to the Personal Assistant.
10.6 If a Customer employs a Personal Assistant who qualifies for an
obligatory pension scheme with employer contribution then the minimum
amount the Customer will have to pay will be added to their Direct
Payment. Should the situation change and the Personal Assistant is no
longer enrolled in a pension scheme then the Customer must inform the
Council and return any unspent funds which were specifically allocated for
the pension scheme.
10.7 The Direct Payment cannot be used to buy a service from any of the
following people:
• A spouse (husband or wife of the Customer)
• The civil partner or partner of the Customer; or
• Anyone living as the same.
Or, anyone who is lives in the same household as the Customer who is a:
• parent or parent in law;
• son or daughter;
• son in law or daughter in law;
• stepson or step daughter;
• brother or sister;
• aunt or uncle;
• grandparent of the Customer; or
• a spouse or civil partner of the above.
The above applies unless the County Council is satisfied that paying for
the service from such a person is the only option available to meet the
Customer’s need satisfactorily and agreement has been reached in
advance and recorded in Schedule 1 of this agreement.
10.8 Customers who are receiving assistance from a supplementary card
holder to manage their Direct Payment cannot employ that same person to
support them as a Personal Assistant, unless the County Council is satisfied
that it is necessary to meet a person’s needs and it is agreed with the
Customer in advance and recorded in Schedule 1 of this agreement.
10.9 In most instances, Personal Assistants would be considered as
employed for tax purposes because of the nature of their work. Where a
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Personal Assistant is self-employed, the Customer should request evidence
that the Personal Assistant is registered with HM Revenue and Customs, as
self-employed, for the specific type of work to be undertaken. Examples of
documents that would indicate self-employment status include a letter with
a Unique Tax Reference number and/or a written Status Ruling from
HMRC.
10.10 It is the Customer’s responsibility to tell third parties that their data
will be shared with WSCC as goods and/or services are being purchased
with public funds.
10.11 The Customer must make all documents available to the County
Council if requested. The HMRC operate an online status tool but this should
not be relied upon as evidence of self-employment. If self- employment
status is challenged it could result in the Customer becoming liable for
unpaid tax and national insurance to the HMRC, or holiday, sickness
payments to the Personal Assistant. It is therefore recommended that the
Customer takes independent advice on the employment status of the
Personal Assistant.
11. Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Checks
11.1 The Customer should ensure that any person that they are going to
employ has been checked through the Disclosure and Barring Service
(“DBS”) and that satisfactory references have been obtained from previous
employers. The DBS check can be performed by the agency providing the
service, by the Direct Payment Support Service or by the County Council.
11.2 Before using their services the Customer should ensure that a
Domiciliary Care Agency has carried out a Disclosure and Barring Service
Check for each of its employees.
12. Support and Advice
12.1 The County Council needs to be satisfied that a Customer has taken
appropriate advice on using their Direct Payments, especially when they
are choosing to employ Personal Assistants. A Direct Payments Support
Service provides Customers with a range of employment related advice
and information. If a Customer chooses to engage with an alternative
source of advice or support, and there is a cost attached, this must be
funded by the Customer.
12.2 If the Customer is intending to employ a Personal Assistant, use a
self-employed Personal Assistant, or use a volunteer and pay expenses,
they will always be referred to the Direct Payments Support Service funded
by the County Council. This is to ensure that the Customer understands
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and acts within the law and regulations relating to employment matters.
12.3 The County Council may withhold Direct Payments if the social or
health care worker reaches the decision that the Customer has insufficient
understanding and knowledge of employment law and related matters.
12.4 Any named advice and support provider used by the Customer is to
be recorded in Schedule 1 of this Agreement.
13. Purchasing Residential Care
13.1 Direct Payments cannot currently be used for long-term residential
care. Short periods of regular respite care in a registered home are
permitted, but cannot be for a consecutive period of more than four
weeks. If the Customer requires longer in a registered care or nursing
home then they should contact their social or health care worker.
14. Purchasing Equipment
14.1 Equipment to promote independence in activities of daily living
and/or support the provision of personal care may be available on loan,
following assessment by the West Sussex Independent Living Service
(ILS). If a Customer wishes to purchase additional equipment using the
Direct Payment they should ask their social or health care worker for
further guidance.
15. Appeals and Complaints
15.1 Independent Lives, The Direct Payments Support Service has
their own complaints procedure which is available on request from them
directly.
15.2 If the Customer has a complaint about the service they are
purchasing, they should direct their complaint to that organisation, and
use the service’s complaints procedure. If the Customer, having gone
through this process is still not satisfied, they can contact the Direct
Payments Support Service, Trading Standards, Healthwatch, their social
or health care worker, or the County Council’s Customer Relations Team
to help them progress the matter.
15.3 Complaints can be made directly to the County Council by phoning
033 022 28222 or 01243 777100 and asking for the Customer relations team. Or by writing to: WSCC Customer Relations Team, County Hall, West Street, Chichester, PO19 1RQ
16. Protecting your personal data
16.1 West Sussex County Council (WSCC) respects your privacy and is
committed to protecting your personal data. We comply with the Data
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Protection Act 2018 , the General Data Protection Regulation (EU)
2016/679) (GDPR) and any subsequent replacement legislation (“Data
Protection Legislation”).We process personal data because it is necessary
in order to comply with the Authority’s legal obligations and to enable it
to perform tasks carried out in the public interest
We ensure that your personal data is processed fairly and lawfully, is
accurate, is kept secure and is retained for no longer than is necessary
16.2 We collect, hold and process personal data from you which may
also include the personal data of third parties if you purchase goods and
services with your Direct Payment or use the Direct Payment for the
employment of individuals.
We process personal data to:
provide you with appropriate services
help us develop and improve our services
protect public funds
We process personal data in accordance with the WSCC Privacy Policy.
For more information about how your data is stored and used, for details of
our Data Protection Officer (DPO) and for more information about and your rights please see the WSCC website at
https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/privacy-policy/
16.3 The West Sussex County Council prepaid card is operated by
Allpay, the card issuer, on behalf of WSCC. Allpay process personal data
on behalf of WSCC in accordance with their data protection obligations
under Data Protection Legislation. Personal data may be shared with: internal departments
other local authorities (education, social care and relevant housing and
employment and other services)
clinical commissioning groups (CCGs)
NHS Trusts
Other third-party organisations, as allowed by law
Other partner agencies that provide services on our behalf, in particular
Allpay
agencies with whom we have a duty to co-operate, such as police
Copy to: 1) Customer and 2) Social Care/Health File
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Appendix 1 Sources of advice about Direct Payments:
Direct Payments Independent Advice and Information (funded by
WSCC)
The Direct Payments Support Service is funded by the County Council to
provide advice, information and support to anyone wanting assistance
with taking a Direct Payment or a Direct Payment to a Suitable Person.
The Direct Payments Support Services offer a range of advice information
and support to Customers, for example:
• General information about Direct Payments;
• Planning the use of Direct Payments and Direct Payments to a
Suitable Person;
• Budgeting the money;
• Recruiting staff and good employment practice; and
• Risk assessments, insurance, and record keeping etc.
Anyone who wishes to use their Direct Payment or Direct Payment to
suitable person to employ a Personal Assistant, use a self-employed
Personal Assistant or pay volunteer expenses, should always be referred
to the Direct Payments Support Service for advice to ensure they
understand the legal and tax implications.
The Direct Payments Support Service also offers services which are not
covered by the contract for Direct Payment support, but are of value to
many Customers. These are optional and paid for by Customers from their
personal budgets.
Independent Payroll Service (IPS) to calculate wages, holiday pay,
tax & NI deductions, etc., and produce wage slips.
Prepaid card Support Service If the customer chooses to use the
service provider’s Prepaid Card Support Service, or the services of an
independent broker, this needs to be recorded clearly on the Direct
Payments agreement.
The Prepaid Card Support service will run as a separate scheme on the
prepaid card portal so that the service provider can manage customer’s
funds in the same way as they do now with the managed bank accounts.
Recruitment Solutions (RS) a central fund is maintained and
contributed to by Customers as a regular contribution from their Direct
Payment. Customers can then draw on the fund to pay for recruitment
costs for employing PAs, such as advertising and interviewing etc. (this
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operates as a pooled resource for Customers to help contingency
planning).
Contact Details: (please note that the Direct Payments Support
Service will be going out for procurement late 2018 so these contact details may change depending on the outcome of the procurement.
Independent Lives
2nd Floor North Suite
Southfield House
11 Liverpool Gardens
Worthing, BN 1RY.
Telephone 01903 219482 www.independentlives.org
2. Local Authority Advice and Information:
Staff employed by the County Council can provide advice and information;
Social care workers and support brokers can offer advice to Customers
who want to use their Direct Payment to only purchase care and support
from a CQC registered independent care provider, or day care, where the
Customer will not be directly employing a Personal Assistant.
Occupational Therapists or members of the Sensory Services Team (for
people with a visual or hearing impairment) can offer the Customer
information and advice if they want to use their Direct Payment to
purchase equipment.
Contact Details:
In the first instance the Customer should speak with their allocated
worker. Or phone Adults’ CarePoint 01243 642121 Email:
socialcare@westsussex.gov.uk
3. Independent sources of information (not funded by West
Sussex County Council)
UK PA Register: An independent organisation providing a national
resource that aims to assist people looking for support staff to employ
when accessing Personal Budgets, Direct Payments, etc. UK PA Register
will also provide a payroll service for a cost.
Contact Details:
UK PA Register, West Lancs Peer Support, Allied Business Centre, 1 Potter
Place, West Pimbo, Skelmersdale, WN8 9PH Telephone 01695 556 554
www.ukpar.org
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Glossary
Customer The person who has social care needs for which this payment is being made to meet.
Suitable Person When a Customer does not have the mental capacity to choose to have a Direct Payment but it is in their best
interest do so then a friend, relative or carer can be appointed to receive and manage the money on behalf of the customer.
Supplementary Cardholder
A supplementary card-holder provides practical assistance to the customer/ Suitable Person to help them manage their prepaid card account.
The Council West Sussex County Council is the local authority responsible for the provision of Social Care to members
of the public in or from West Sussex.
Personal Budget The weekly amount of money allocated by the Council to the Customer to meet their Social Care needs.
Assessment Where a representative of the Council assesses whether the Customer is eligible for social care services under the
Care Act.
Support Plan A document produced by the allocated Social or health care worker detailing how the Customer’s social care
needs are going to be met.
Contribution If an assessment of the Customer’s financial situation shows that they have enough money to contribute
towards their care this is the amount they will contribute on a four weekly basis.
Top up Where a Customer wishes to receive more support than they are assessed as being eligible for under the Care Act, or services which cost more than their personal
budget will allow they can choose to ‘top up’ the additional fees from their own finances.
Personal Assistant An individual directly employed by the Customer to provide services to meet their needs.
Independent Lives West Sussex County Council has a contract with an independent organisation to support
customers and suitable persons to carry out
employer responsibilities and advice and support services about Direct Payments’. At present this
is ‘Independent Lives’
Disclosures and
Barring Service Formerly Criminal Records Bureau Check – employers
must carry this out on potential employees during
recruitment as a background check concerning any
previous criminal offences and to ensure they are not barred from working in certain job roles.
Respite A period of time spent by the Customer in a short term
residential care setting.
Direct Payment Prepaid card Version June 2018
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Mental Capacity Under the Mental Capacity Act an individual is deemed to
be lacking mental capacity when they are unable to
understand information, retain information, use
information to make a decision or communicate their views wishes and opinions.