Direct Payments

[T3009]

Hi, any advice as to application for direct payments - council sayng not applicable for my son. They have not even met us!
Thanks

Thanks for your response, they keep telling me that I do not qualify, bla bla. But I have downloaded the relevant papers from the www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/earlysupport and it is clear that they have to consider an assessment.
My paed/GP will fully support us. Any idea how much one gets weekly? It this means tested.

I see, thanks a lot. What would one use the money for, can you pay for a specialist nanny etc?? Or are they specific about spending..It is a long process??

Hi, just had fist call with social worker, 55 mins on the phone, she had lots of questions and will come and see us on Wednesday next week. Any tips please?

I specified that I wanted respite and someone to look after him so that I can rest - she suggested Mencap chilminding!!!
Anything I should be aware of when they visit us!

I would say that the process is just as harrowing and in-depth as the dla process...in many ways it is more so. The information gathering takes up to 8 weeks at weekly sessions of about an hour and a half each and the SW will visit you for this work, they also observe and maybe chat with any children you have, etc...building up a comprehensive picture and description of all of the family's needs and issues.

This was my experience anyway so imagine it would be similar for anyone.
The first 2/3 visits the SW was trying to keep saying that she thought we wouldn't qualify for any help...remember this 1 SW and their opinion is just that and that this application for direct payments goes before a panel of people who make the decision in your case (think there are 4/5 people at these panels)...I didn't necessarily see eye to eye with the SW that did the work with us but in the end she was very supportive and had changed her mind entirely and recommended the application going to panel.

Are there siblings? In my experience they don't care how knackered the parents are (until they think the parents will crack and threaten to put the children in care), but we got 2 hours DP (woohoo) a week on basis siblings getting no attention and prevented from doing normal activities DS3 could not tolerate & needed time to help with homework. We get 3 hours in holidays. Of course 2 hours is not enough to do anything but its a start.
You can use it for anyone but its only £8 an hour (until you prove you can't find anyone with enough experience at that price) and the person has to have a CRB through social services. You can top it up yourself.
You cal also use agencies on social care list and they can pay them directly rather than you doing DP but then you tend to have less flexibility

yes, I really think it's important to be totally open and honest about everything and it's hard to lay your heart on your sleeve but....it's the only way

There are criteria and levels which during the process will become clear. You won't get a copy of the criteria but the SW should be able to inform you and show you each part that your case falls into for consideration.

The SW has finally agreed to come out and do an assessment. I ahve found useful information on official websites..

Perhaps we were lucky (and I was pretty persistent) but after one hour-long visit from the SW we got £50 a week for a respite carer (will enable us to get our existing day nanny to do some evenings).

Anyone got a direct payment for SEN provision?