Council arranged personal budget
A social care worker arranges services on your behalf with council approved providers. You may not have a choice over which provider is arranged for you, and you are limited to providers that are council approved.
Private direct payment
Your personal budget is paid directly into a bank account, and you manage the money yourself. You are in charge of your money and have more choices about how you spend it to meet your outcomes (as agreed in your support plan). You will need to keep a record of how you spend the money and provide this documentation to our Direct Payment Auditors when it is requested. If you employ your own staff, you will also have responsibilities of being an employer. We will ensure appropriate Employer Liability insurance is in place to support you with your employer responsibilities alongside The Direct Payments Team.
Supported direct payment
A trusted friend, family member, or suitable person opens a bank account for your personal budget and they support you to manage the money. With a supported direct payment, you get help to manage your money but still retain a lot of control over how you spend your money. It is important that you find someone you can trust to take on this role. If you choose to employ staff, this person will become the employer, and they will have employer responsibilities, not you.
Third party direct payment
An external payroll provider will hold your personal budget funds in an account for you and will make payments as instructed by the individual managing the direct payment. You have the security of a payroll provider holding your money and still retain a lot of control over how you can spend your money. You will need to check and approve invoices, timesheets, and receipts prior to the payroll provider making the payments. If you want to employ staff, you or your nominee will become the employer and will have employer responsibilities.