what is the purpose of direct payments

[chocnomore]

I applied for DP to fund respite care but was turned down as Dd has attended a holiday scheme for 3 days in the last year. Dd attended to I was able to go to work ad there is no other childcare for children with SN available.

what is the purpose of DP? I thought the idea was to give the carer a break? or did I get this wrong?

also, i never had a carer's assessment.

I asked for support and didn't get anywhere - until I became seriously ill and another professional wrote to SS to ask for support. Then (almost a year after I became ill) I got a carers assessment, and now ds gets 12 nights a year respite, and 2 hours a week DP to employ a carer ( I save it for the holidays).
A friend of mine with a profoundly disabled high needs child (and other children) has been turned down for help many times over the years with the SW saying her DLA should pay for care! Now at last with both parents health in tatters they are getting some respite hours- not enough though.
My feeling is that SS probably only act when a crisis has already occurred, rather than giving help to support families before there is a crisis.. ..

Should have said the first step is to ask for a carers assessment in writing.

I asked for a carer's assessment in writing but have been turned down; so falling on the first hurdle. oh well

The policy seems to vary between areas. We get 4 hours a week but no respite. I use it for a carer to take my daughter out and also childcare so we can go out. They have bought in new rules here and it cannot be used to pay for holiday clubs as they are already council subsidised.

I have not had a carer's assessment, it was a SS assessment of my daughter. Chocnomore, do you know of any parents in your area in a similar situation who are getting it?

no, i am not very well 'connected' in RL :(

Push again for an assessment.. sadly it really is the case of shouting loudest :(
We get 3 hours a week for DS2 but are in the annoying position of being unable to use them and have ££ stacked up. That's because HMRC made such cock ups with our payroll that I can't face being an employer again. We are allowed to use them for holiday clubs here , and do, but need to find something to use the surplus.. not so easy with a 16 yr old.

Keep shouting!

In this area direct payments can be used to fund an agency worker, therefore the agency are the employer.
There is a care agency that runs weekend daycare, and they can be used for that. The same agency runs over all holidays, and the dp's can be used there too.