Direct payments

No. You can choose any of these options:

• you can choose to take direct payments to meet all of your assessed support needs
• you can choose to take direct payments to meet some of your assessed support needs and let the council arrange services to meet the rest
• you can have services arranged and provided for you by the council to meet all of your assessed support needs.

The council encourages people to take ownership of their care planning, and be free to choose how their needs are met, whether through local authority or third-party provision, by direct payments, or a combination of the three approaches.

People who use direct payments enjoy the flexibility and choice which is offered, and many say it has given them greater self esteem and confidence.

However direct payments may not suit everyone. If you change your mind about receiving direct payments you can have support arranged for you by giving 4 weeks’ notice.