Direct payments - can I switch to them later? and mechanics...

[heartinthecountry]

Had a SW come out on Weds who assessed us for respite care. She has said we are entitled to 8 hours a week (which I was pretty surprised at - think it is because I am heavily PG and dd can't walk at all).

She phoned this morning to ask me how I want the hours split/which days etc so that she can ask the carers agency.

I am a bit torn - Ideally, I think I would rather have dp's so that we have more flexibility but as I do really need someone to come in and help me now (with carrying dd mostly) and don't have anyone lined up, I am wondering if I accepted a respite carer now if I could switch to dps later? i.e once the baby is born.

Also - those who use them - does the person you pay have to have a bank account etc? I was thinking about getting a 16 year old in over summer hols to help me with dd and baby (with me still around) anyway and would like to use dps but they would probably want cash.

thanks

Hi Fio - Have they still not sorted out your dps? It is shit... I must admit I'm not quite sure how I have qualified for 8 hours. But if I am entitled to that then you definitely should be....

from what i have heard it may be best to go down the respite care route get them to agree the number of hours and then say you want direct payments, we just requested direct payments and only got 8 hours per month for each child, 8 hours per month is the least they can give, just trying to push for more for the summer holidays. it has taken from last september to sort it all out and we have just got the first payment throu.

Hmmm. thanks OJ. That is partly why I am thinking, although dp's would be more flexible, I should maybe just accept the respite carer. It definitely seems from both your experience and Fio's that dps can take ages to sort out and tbh I really need the help asap.

First HITC I would make absolutely sure they really have a respite worker. Even if they can get someone it may well turn out that you don't get the same person, they may be crap.... or it may all go well! Its all very well offering you a respite worker from an agency but its nothing if there is no-one, or no-one any good, available. If you can establish that there really is someone, who they are, what they are like etc, even if its more than one person (which can be good sometimes) you need to establish what happens if it goes wrong? If X or Y isn't available when you need them (sick, hols etc) then do you get to bank up the hours? you can bank the hours with DPs. I do know parents who use their local respite service over DPs as its less work and they know it works well. But if there's any doubt I would go for DPs, even though its a PITA. HTH!