Carers' Direct Payments - Print version

What is a carers' direct payment?

A carers’ direct payment is a payment to a carer to meet unmet needs that may have arisen from your caring role. It is a payment made specifically to a carer and specific to their own individual needs.

How do I find out if I’m eligible?

As part of a carers assessment or a joint assessment with the person you care for, you can discuss any needs you might have as a carer and the best way of meeting those needs. You may have thought of some solutions yourself, there might be some existing support that can help meet those needs or a carers’ direct payment might be a solution. The practitioner completing the assessment will talk this through with you.

An assessment of your needs as a carer will explore your overall wellbeing, the impact caring has on your life and will provide you with individual information and advice. It’s an opportunity for you to talk to someone in detail about your caring role, what matters most to you and what you might like to achieve.

Who can have a carers’ assessment?

Anyone caring for an adult can receive a carers’ assessment regardless of how long you have been caring and the intensity of your caring role. Caring impacts everyone differently so it’s important we understand your situation and impact being a carer has on you.

Access our Carers Direct Payment Leaflet [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/42931/carers-direct-payments].

Eligibility

In line with The Care and Support (Eligibility Criteria) Regulations 2014, we use the defined eligibility criteria for carers to support us in making any eligibility determinations. The eligibility criteria helps us explore the impact caring may have on you. This will be explored within the assessment. We will look at the following:

• Your Needs - Does the need arise from your caring role?
• Your Wellbeing - Your physical or mental health is, or is at risk of deteriorating. Or as a result you are unable to meet any of the following outcomes:
  • Carrying out any caring responsibilities you may have for a child
  • Providing care to other people
  • Maintaining a habitable home environment
  • Managing and maintaining nutrition
  • Developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships
  • Engaging in work, training , education or volunteering
  • Making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community, including recreational facilities or services
  • Engaging in recreational activities

And as a result - there is a significant impact on your wellbeing.

Who do I need to contact to discuss Carers' Direct Payments?

In Coventry we work in partnership with the Carers Trust Heart of England to deliver Carers Assessments for people that are not known to Adult Social Care. You can contact the Carers Trust Heart of England – 024 7663 2972.

If you are already receiving support through Adult Social Care please contact - 024 7683 3003.

What can I use a Carers' Direct Payment for?

A Carers’ Direct Payment can be used to purchase something or buy in services that support your wellbeing as a carer and meet any unmet needs. It may be paid as a one-off or it may be an on-going payment. It might be a one-off purchase such as appliance needed at home, such as a washing machine or dishwasher or it might be something that will help you regain or develop skills such a course, it might be something that would enhance your wellbeing such as a gym membership or something therapeutic such as counselling.

A Carers’ Direct Payment can’t be used to purchase care for the person you are caring for. This is because the direct payment is specific to your needs as a carer and the person you are caring for would require their own needs assessing.

When you have a Carers’ Direct Payment provided a support plan will be completed which will specify how the Direct Payment will meet your agreed outcomes.

What else might be considered when looking at a Carers’ Direct Payment?

The practitioner will look at whether your needs can be met by services and support in the community. There are a wide range of carer related services and support available through the Carers Trust Heart of England.

The Go CV+ Card [https://go-cv.co.uk/go-cv-plus/] offers free and discounted rates to any carers registered with the Carers Trust Heart of England to a range of leisure and recreational activities.

The person I care for is self-funding, am I entitled to support still?

Anyone with caring responsibilities is entitled to a carers’ assessment regardless of their financial situation. A Carers’ Direct Payment is non-means tested meaning that we do not take into consideration your income and do not charge for the provision. However, it’s important to note that a Carers’ Direct Payment cannot be used to purchase care for the person you look after.

How often can I receive a Carers’ Direct Payment?

A Carers’ Direct Payment is there to meet any unmet needs that arise from your caring role that have a significant impact on you. The assessor will discuss review arrangements to ensure your needs continue to be met. The assessor will usually complete a follow up discussion around 6-8 weeks after you've had the Direct Payment and then will discuss a yearly review. This doesn't mean if you require help again that you have to wait a year, if your needs change please get in touch.

Examples

Mary and Derek

Mary cares for her husband Derek who has vascular dementia. Mary’s caring role is intense, she rarely has a break and cares both day and night. Mary says she is managing but that she can’t maintain the garden and it’s become an intense form of worry for her. Mary is provided with a direct payment to buy in the services of a gardener once a month.

Alan and Andy

Alan looks after his son Andy who has a learning disability and autism. Andy requires on-going support day and night. Alan is not originally from Coventry and moved here years ago. Alan is provided with a direct payment to pay for Alan and Andy to visit family for a short holiday. This gives Alan the chance to reconnect with family and also the opportunity to have a break whilst other family members spend time with Andy.

Top Tips for Carers Direct Payments

Often Carers Direct Payments might be discussed as part of a Carers Assessment and it might be the first time you've heard about it. We find it might take time to really think about your needs and what might help. It might be something as simple as an appliance in the house that would save a bit of time, such as an airfryer, a dishwasher or a robotic hoover or it might be something that would really help improve your wellbeing, such as a day out, a spa treatment or a course you've wanted to take, everyone's needs are different:

• Ask the practitioner for some time to think about what solutions might help
• Speak to your family about what they might think will help
• Don't be afraid to think of different solutions - everyone's needs are unique and we always want to understand different ways to support carers. You will know best what will improve your own wellbeing or help you as a carer
• If you're struggling to think of a solution talk to the practitioner about what they might suggest.