Purpose

Delegated Authority Report Alignment of Direct
Payments rate to ensure consistency across Children’s
Services and Adult Services

Decision

For the reasons set out in this report, the
Corporate Director has decided to:

Agree to increase the hourly rate of
direct payments from £14.24 per hour rising to £14.39
per hour for children and families open to Fusion Short Breaks, and
to back date this from the 1st April 2025.

 

Agree to increase the hourly rate of
direct payments, by the same as above, for children and families
open to the Disabled Children’s Social work team who are
eligible for direct payments.

Alternative options considered

Local Authorities have a duty to meet assessed
need. Taking away the option of a Direct Payment places more demand
on more costly care provider agencies that are already finding it
challenging to keep up with demand.  In
addition, there is a significant likelihood of legal challenge.
 
Doing nothing mean families either waiting, or
already in receipt of Direct Payments, would increasingly be unable
to pay their Personal Assistants the National Minimum wage, (which
is a legal requirement), meaning their care and support would not
meet assessed need and the Local Authority is not fulfilling its
statutory duty. This is not a defensible position for the Local
Authority.
 
Increasing our activity based short breaks is
being explored. However, this does not take away the right young
people and their parents/carers have to choose direct payments as
an option if they have assessed eligible needs.