Direct payments are local council payments for individuals who would like to arrange and pay for their own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from Council. If you think you need care or support services, County Council’s Adult Social Care service will carry out an assessment of your needs.

Once the assessment has been carried out, there are three ways in which the services you need can be arranged:

• Council can give you a Direct Payment so you can arrange your own services in the way in which you prefer; or
• Council we can arrange the services for you; or a combination of the two.

For example, you can use the Direct Payment to:

• Pay Alpine to provide you directly with services;
• Employ your own staff;
• Design your own service that fits your choices and needs;
• Buy equipment that better fits your lifestyle;
• Arrange your own respite care to offer you or your carer a break; or
• A combination of any of these.

However, there are some rules. You must spend your Direct Payment on things that your assessment shows that you need. You can never use your Direct Payment to buy:

• Services from the local authority
• Long term residential care; or
• Anything that does not meet your agreed needs.