Direct Payments - user feedback survey
We had a period of engagement with direct payment users, their carers and families to get their views about the support they currently receive for Direct Payments and Personal Budgets. We heard suggestions about how we could improve the service.
Background Information
There are three areas of focus aimed at increasing the number of people using a Direct Payment in Haringey. We are keen to hear your views on these areas so we can improve the service to better support you.
- To introduce Payment Cards
- To introduce Individual Service Funds (ISF)
- Using direct payments to buy assistive technology
What are Payment Cards?
Payment Cards are an easy way for the council to transfer money to people who have decided to take a Direct Payment. They can be used to pay for goods and services to meet the social care needs detailed in an individual’s Support Plan. A Payment Card works just like any other debit card. It can be used to make payments in person, over the phone or over the internet. A Payment Card is secured by a chip and Personal Identification Number (PIN). Payment Cards are now very common with more people using them.
What is an Individual Service Fund?
An Individual Service Fund (ISF) gives you choice and control over how you receive your care but without you having to take on the responsibility of looking after the money yourself. You remain in control of what the money is spent on but an organisation providing your care holds your money for you in an ISF.
Using direct payments to buy equipment and assistive technology
We are aware other Local Authorities allow a direct payment to be used for recommended daily living equipment or assistive technology to promote independence and assist a person to live in their own home.
Instead of having equipment provided, you would buy the equipment you need with your direct payments. The council must be satisfied that the equipment sufficiently meets your assessed needs and outcomes.
How to have your say
This engagement period ran from 25 July to 15 August 2018.
There were three ways you could send us your feedback: via an online/paper survey and attending our drop-in sessions, held at Winkfield Resource Centre on 7 and 8 August 2018.
What will happen at the end of the engagement period?
We will publish all the feedback we receive so you can see other views about the service. All feedback will remain anonymous and will not be attributed to any individual.
We will also set out our next steps which will be based on your feedback and will set out details about how we plan to improve the council’s direct payment service.
Details of our current direct payments service can be found at Direct Payments
- Direct Payments Team
- Tel: 020 8489 5310
- Email: personalbudgetsuppport@haringey.gov.uk