A new portal has been launched on Ceredigion County Council’s website to bring everything relating to Direct Payments together in one place.
Services users can now get all the information they need regarding Direct Payments on the new, easy to use, website: Direct Payments Ceredigion
What are Direct Payments?
A Direct Payment is money awarded by the Local Authority to allow people to arrange their own package of care. Direct Payments can be offered to almost anyone who has been assessed as eligible to receive community care services. The amount of money will depend on how much and what type of assistance is needed.
People can use Direct Payment to arrange support that is right for them and their lifestyle. Having a Direct Payment means people can have more control over the support they need and be able to make important choices about their care.
People in Ceredigion are using Direct Payments to arrange:
- Support with daily life and activities
- Support to get out and about
- Support with personal care
- Support that helps achieve personal goals
- Equipment that supports their independence
Personal Assistants
The website is a one stop shop where people can advertise their own personal assistant advertisements on the portal, and search for suitable vacancies.
There are more than 50 roles advertised on the website at present: Personal Assistants
Councillor Alun Williams, Cabinet Member for Through Age Wellbeing, said: “This portal provides a new service that will make life much easier for those needing help with Direct Payments. Making all the arrangements can seem like a complicated process for those not used to it. The portal puts everything needed in one convenient place. It provides information, support and practical help with things that can feel daunting, like recruiting and employing personal assistants, paying wages and making tax and National Insurance arrangements. We hope this will encourage more people to take the option of Direct Payments because it can provide independence, choice, and support. Prospective Direct Payment users will now be able to investigate what is entailed, and hopefully feel more confident.”
Lis Cooper, Team Manager for Direct Payments Support Service in Ceredigion, added: “The new website will also enable prospective personal assistants to register their interest in working and allowing them to tailor the hours and areas they would like to work. This is something that we will be concentrating on over the next few months; looking at caring for those who need it within their own communities, cutting down on mileage required to get to and from work and including prospective employees who are not able to drive, to access work. We are also interested in reaching out to the agricultural community to offer employment that fits around their current commitments and adding new income streams to their businesses. In this rural locality, I see this as vitally important to keep income within our communities.
Apply for Direct Payments
To apply for Direct Payments, service users need to complete an assessment of care needs. This can be arranged through the current social worker or by contacting Clic Customer Services: 01545 570 881 / clic@ceredigion.gov.uk
The Direct Payments Support Service is part of Ceredigion’s Through Age Wellbeing programme (TAW). TAW consists of three services: Porth Cymorth Cynnar, Porth Gofal and Porth Cynnal.
The programme identifies what well-being concerns people have at an early stage and prevent escalation, wherever possible, through a timely and proportionate response.
27/03/2023