Direct Payments - pain in arse

[childrenwithneeds]

I have been awarded direct payments for my DD who is 5.5 and has health and medical needs.

We were given this to use for clubs/activities/Carer etc to come in or for her to go out to give us some 'respite' and so that she gets to do additional things whilst we get 'a break'. She is very hard work....

Anyway. After meeting with the direct payment people, basically we can't get someone in who we know as they need to be self employed, dbs, first aid etc and yet clubs local to us prob won't be able to deal with her needs both emotional, physical and health wise so we are no better off.

Anyone out there got an advice as I really don't know what else to do in order to utilise these payments.

Thanks in advance

You can employ people you know who may often be only people that know needs best. You do need to employ them with contracts and the like,and sort pensions and payroll but that's why the money is there.

I employ own carers no one has said they have to be first aid trained or DBS checked though of course with children this is more important. If they are willing to get heckled and you happy to write contracts then can't see why you can't.

Look up shaw trust they do payroll and NI etc for people using carers it's about £15 month and all can be paid for via direct payments. Though of course gives you bit less out of budget. But if there is no other way you don't have much to lose

Why can't you get anyone that you know? My friend did it when I had them for DS. Another friend has her own Mum as her DC worker.
The only was rule was that the DP worker could not live in the same house as the child.
When my friend registered she already had another job and just did the 8 hours with DS on a weekend. She just had to fill in a form for HMRC to say it was her 2nd job. I used 'Cool to Care' to work out her wages, tax and NI. We sent off her DBS check as normal.

If you have someone in mind, can they just register as self employed (this is very easy and costs nothing) and you just pay for their DBS and first aid course - your local St John's Ambulance should run them.

Then they just invoice you for their fee and complete an annual self assessment form to pay their tax and NI. You pay them by bank transfer.

I don't even think it's necessary to use a payroll agency or worry about their tax or NI because you're not their employer, you're buying a service off them, just like you would a hairdresser or a driving instructor.

The problem is lots of people don't want hassle of being self employed and doing forms especially if they already have a job and this is extra.

Fair enough, but I still think £15 pm is rather a lot for what is at most, 2 or 3 hours of easy admin work a year.

I don't even think it's necessary to use a payroll agency or worry about their tax or NI because you're not their employer

You are when you use direct payments in my area. You have to have employers liability insurance in place, you pay the wages into the carers bank and send out a pay slip. The carer has to fill in time sheets and there is an employment contract between you and the carer.
It very much depends on how your local council run the scheme, it's different everywhere.

It is very necessary unfortunately. but once you are set up it can work well. Is there a carers centre who can help advise you?

We use carers from DD's school who are looking for extra work.

basically, you ARE their employer and it has to all be done through proper channels with contracts etc.

Fair enough if the rules mean you are employing them. But that would then mean they aren't self employed as said in the OP. You can't be both at the same time for one piece of work.