Direct Payments Support - Framework

Our aspirations are to grow the numbers of people who choose a Direct Payment in Cornwall as a vehicle to purchasing support and meeting needs. To achieve this, we are keen to develop support structures to enable people, no matter their ability, to be able to receive a Direct Payment and manage it.

We are looking for providers to offer some or all of the following services to enable people of all abilities to manage Direct Payments successfully:

Support to recruit and train Personal Assistants and maintain a Personal Assistance database and manage a PA/Micro-Provider forum for people working in Cornwall. (One provider will be commissioned)

Payroll support, to enable people to understand their responsibilities to HMRC and manage paying Personal Assistants (PA’s), taxes and ensuring where appropriate, client contributions are paid into the person’s Direct Payments account.

To provide a 3rd party managed account service for people who are unable or unwilling to manage the funds in the Direct Payment themselves. We also expect that this service will support people to arrange their support, set up User Controlled Trusts and both formal and informal Circles of Support where needed, and provide independent Individual Service Funds for people. The Service will also provide the council with all monitoring, support the person to make financial contributions and complete on-line financial assessment and financial assessment reviews with the person when required.

Information, advice and guidance about personalisation, creative support planning, using Direct Payments and employing Personal Assistants in Cornwall will be a common thread across all services