Short breaks ( disabled kids) direct payments

[DianaPoz]

My son is 9 & been awarded 5 hours of direct payments per week
What can I use it for ? How do I find a career for him ?
This is the first time I applied so unsure about it all
Been told since I requested the direct payments I gotta deal with it all myself

I don't do children's direct payments but I've had a lot of dealings with adults direct payments.

Your local authority should be able to signpost you to an organisation that will help you recruit and manage being an employer. If they can't/won't you might have to google a bit but e.g. www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/practical-support/getting-care-and-support/direct-payments has helpful information.

You can literally recruit whoever you like though, that's the beauty of direct payments.

Did you actually request direct payments though or was it presented as the only option available to you?

I was asked what I would be interested in and I liked the idea of flexibility
It’s all going to finalised tomorrow ( already been told he will get 5 hours per week) the core component of it.
However was explained that after rye ructions it’s only £11 per hour so don’t know who would agree that I would trust to look after child with special needs for that amount ?

We get direct payments for DD and as we got them through our council, they used an agency which dealt with all the financial side of it. Though I know of some parents who do it themselves, that wasn’t for me.
As pp said you can have anyone to be a carer, our first one was someone DD had known for years (her bus escort) so was comfortable with. One parent I know uses her mum.
Many parents use it to pay someone to take their child to do an activity they might enjoy.

I did ask if I could pay with it for his swimming classes/ Playsheme that he goes to already ? They said yes but not all of it
The way they explained is the whole point that f these of these payments is for me to have a break from caring for my disabled child to have an opportunity to spend time with my younger son or do something for myself.
As with swimming or Playsheme I would have to take him.
I’m just trying to figure out what I can do. I just read a whole Manual about all the responsibilities that I have to take on when hiring someone as well as I have to leave all receipts etc

You need to ask the local authority what support they'll give you to recruit a personal assistant? As you stated it may be difficult to find the right person.
Ask them for a definitive list of what you can and cant use the direct payment for? Cleaning? Holidays? I'm sure there are loads of creative ways you can have a break....

Yeah it can seem a bit 'rules' at times but basically it's been awarded on the basis that you need a break.

You can use that direct payment in whatever way you like to give you a break from your caring role but as it's been awarded for respite purposes it can only be used for respite purposes.

So you can use it to pay someone else to take him swimming/playscheme but you can't use it to pay for swimming/playscheme if it's you taking him.

You can use it however best meets your needs as long as it provides you with respite.

Again, my experience is with adults but I've worked with adults who have recently transitioned from children's services and I'm aware of circumstances where parents have used it as a 'sitting service' while they took siblings to after school activities, or saved it up to use for someone else to come on holiday with the family a few times a year, or used it for someone else to take DC to swimming/ sensory play/ a cafe for a full English for a few hours on a weekend while the parent slept/cleaned/shopped/had their haircut etc.

Use it how you need to use it for a break.

We use my son's short breaks award for him to have 1:1 at an after school sports club (or at least, we did before the pandemic meant that all after school activities were cancelled!) It's run by the same company that does PE in his school, so many of the coaches are already familiar with his needs - they just provide an extra person to support him at the club, and then invoice us (£160 per term, which we pay with a prepaid card that the LA gave us). We were able to argue for this on the grounds that him staying for an extra hour after school gave me a "break" (although it was actually the inclusion that we were more interested in, as he wouldn't be able to attend this club without a 1:1 to support him).

You can use it to pay more to someone every fortnight. If you need more qualified person. They are giving you 5 x 11 per hour per week but this could translate as 3 hrs per week depending on who you get.
Or 6 hours every other week which could work better depends on your and his needs.
Ask who supports in your area

My friend used to look after a little
Boy with Downs Syndrome. His dad was a single parent and she’d look after him for 4 hours a week to give him a break. Sometimes he’d be in the house but in his bedroom/doing DIY and stone times he’d go out. My friend worked in a retail store and looked after the little
Boy after work one night a week. She loved spending time with him and the extra couple of hundred pound a month came in handy so there’s definitely people willing to do this role. She only left as she had 2 babies in quick succession so gave up work

How did you applied for a short break ? I live in Haringey and council didn't give information and they haven't provided any form.