Increasing the Uptake of Direct Payments – solution set
Direct payments were introduced in England in April 1997 following a long campaign by disabled people and their allies. Over the past 10 years, thousands of people have benefited from the choice and control they offer. With the current focus on redesigning the existing care system, through individual budget pilots and in Control, direct payments are both the way to prepare the social care system for radical change, and an important component of the realisation of that change.
Increasing the Uptake of direct payments (DH, 2006), a self-assessment guide, provided local authorities and their partners with a means of assessing and planning their direct payments services. Regional events have promoted the use of the guide, facilitated exchange of expertise and local solutions. These have been organised into this national solution set.
This ‘solution set’ is a way of sharing ‘what works’ from those with experience and building on this to promote and provide direct payments. The contents largely reflect the themes in the self-assessment guide which was designed to encompass services for all. In response to the regional work an additional set has been added, Promoting Equal Access to highlight specific issues for some groups for whom services are difficult to access.
This is intended as a starting point for increasing the sharing of solutions. We welcome additional entries and any other comments. Details on how to do this are provided below.
Access to the solution set
- Leadership
- Straightforward systems
- Learning and development
- Communication
- Comprehensive support
- Commissioning
- Promoting equal access
How do I find solutions in the solution set?
- Click on the solutions category you wish to look at e.g. Commissioning
- Browse through the solutions listed on that page
- Click on the title of the solution you are interested in. Every entry provides either a link to supporting documentation or contact details for further information.
OR
- Click on the solutions category you wish to look at e.g. Commissioning
- Click on a specific theme you want to know more about e.g. Strategic commissioning and needs assessment
- Browse through the solutions listed on that page
- Click on the title of the solution you are interested in. Every entry provides either a link to supporting documentation or contact details for further information.
How do I add my local solution to the solution set?
Firstly you should write up your local solution and save it as a document or collection of documents. Then you can either send them by email to robin.murray-neill@csip.org.uk OR you can follow the steps outlined below to add them directly yo the set yourself.
- Click on the share your resource link in the group resources section of this group
- Enter a title and summary describing your solution
- Enter the tag Direct payments solution set
- Enter additional tags to reflect the area and specific themes of the solution set that your solution addresses. E.g. Commissioning, Commissioning support services OR Leadership, Dedicated direct payment workers
- Attach the document and click the FINISHED button or if you are adding a collection of documents click the ADD MORE button until you are finished, then click the FINISHED button
How do I comment on an existing solution?
- When you are viewing a solution there is a comment form at the bottom of the page underneath the description of the solution
- Enter your comment
- Click on the ADD YOUR COMMENT button
How do I vote on and review an existing solution?
- When you are viewing a solution click on the Review this item link which appears above the comment form at the bottom of the page underneath the description of the solution
- Rate the solution from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent)
- Enter your review
- Click on the VOTE NOW button
How do I start a conversation about a solution?
- Click on the start a new conversation link in the group forum section of this group
- Enter a title and a message
- Click on the ADD CONVERSATION button