Any Shropshire adult over 18 who is eligible for social care support following an assessment or reassessment by their social worker/practitioner can request a direct payment. We use an assessment (under the Care Act 2014) to decide whether a person needs care and support to help them live their day-to-day life.

We have a legal responsibility to offer you a direct payment if you're eligible. Please contact First Point of Contact on 0345 6789044 for more information.

If you’re interested our Care Act assessment factsheet explains more about eligibility and preparing for your assessment. We also have a 'Guide to having support conversations' to help explain about eligibility and preparing for your assessment.

Following confirmation of eligibility your social care worker should discuss and plan with you how to meet your eligible outcomes, and this will be written in your support plan. If you choose to have a direct payment it will be written and agreed in your support plan. 

You may already have some support that we arrange for you, such as having regular support from a care agency, respite or day services. You can request to change this support over to a direct payment, so that you're in control and have choice with the support you receive. Please contact your social worker or FPOC 0345 6789044 for more information.

You can still request a direct payment if you need some help with the paperwork or financial management. In this case you can request that someone you trust manages it on your behalf. This is the 'nominated person'. They can be a family member or friend. They need sign the nominated person's agreement (attached to this page).  

A nominated person manages the direct payment, but they wouldn't take on any employer responsibilities.

If you don’t have someone who could help with this, we can look at an organisation (third party) instead. To do this you'd need to speak to your social care worker.

If a person doesn't have the capacity (understanding) to ask for a direct payment, someone else can on their behalf. A 'best interest' discussion decides if this is the best option for that person. If a direct payment is the best option someone needs to take responsibility for managing the direct payment. They would be the 'authorised person'. They may already be a lasting power of attorney (LPOA) or deputy, or another person that the LPOA or deputy and the council agree with. They need to sign the authorised person's agreement (attached to this page).  

It would be the authorised person who would become the employer if employing personal assistants. If there is no authorised person, we can look at an organisation (third party) instead. To do this you'd need to speak to your social care worker. 

Before making direct payments, we must be happy that:  

• You're eligible 
• The payments will be made to someone who can manage them (either yourself or a suitable person). Find out more about suitable people from our guidance. The agreements are attached to this page.
• You, or someone on your behalf acting in your best interest, signs the direct payment agreement

You may have to pay for some of your care and support depending on your financial circumstances. A financial assessment will be completed to decide this.

Legally there are a few reasons why you can't be offered a direct payment. There may also be reasons why a direct payment may not be best for you. In these circumstances we'll write to you to explain the reasons and offer alternatives.  

Take a look at the Direct Payment Policy for further information. (LINK)

Please see the policy for steps you can take if you disagree with the decision. (link)