During workshops with PSWs, social work practitioners, finance and audit staff and people with lived experience, in preparation for this guidance, a range of examples were highlighted of the kind of support different councils provide or commission, or that practitioners have found useful.
During workshops with PSWs, social work practitioners, finance and audit staff and people with lived experience, in preparation for this guidance, a range of examples were highlighted of the kind of support different councils provide or commission, or that practitioners have found useful. These are reproduced here for information. The list is not exhaustive and other councils may have equivalent resources.
- Acas gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice. They also offer training and help to resolve disputes.
- AccessAva is an online tool that helps people understand the law governing social care in England. With AccessAva, people can find out about their rights and those of a family member, and complete template letters developed by expert lawyers.
- Birmingham City Council have a range of information on their approach to direct payments. This includes their updated policy.
- Blue Sky Brokers is an example of a direct payments support organisation. The work in Salford, Derbyshire and Bedford.
- Camden Council has put together a guide covering how direct payments can be used, including for hiring personal assistants and purchasing services.
- Devon County Council detailed guide to help people make informed decisions.
- Greenwich have coproduced their guidance on direct payments.
- Hampshire County Council provides guides and FAQs about direct payments, covering everything from the advantages to practicalities.
- The Independent Living Group Ltd (ILG) are specialists in direct payment support, working in and around direct payments and employment law. They to provide technical knowledge and guidance for individual employers, personal assistants and professional support teams.
- Leicestershire County Council offers a variety of resources on managing direct payments.
- LG Academy supports individual employers and personal care assistants, along with funding bodies and support organisations. They provide e-learning packages, as well as classroom-based training, both in-person and virtual settings.
- Nottinghamshire County Council have a dedicated PA forum.
- Peninsula employment helpline provides HR advice and guidance.
- Skills for Care, have a range of resources and information for individual employers, personal assistants (PAs) and supporting organisations for people employing their own care as well as resources to support people in a personal assistant role and organisations who support both individual employers and personal assistants.
- Stockport’s policy on direct payments and their pages on direct payments are an example of coproduced resources.
- Stockton council provide a raft of information to on direct payments, with a Facebook group, phone the team option and email which are all rapid ways to get in touch. They support people with training, induction, supervision, ILG training and legal support
- Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) have a library of resources on self-directed support and personal budgets.