DIRECT PAYMENTS GUIDANCE
Purpose of guidance
1. This guidance is primarily for:
- people who use care services
- their families and carers
- support organisations
- service providers
- local authority finance managers
- local authority area managers
- local authority care managers
2. It is split into three parts:
- part 1 is an introduction to direct payments for anyone who is thinking this could be the right approach for them
- part 2 describes how to set up simple and effective direct payments schemes, and is principally directed at local authority staff
- part 3 goes into greater depth about how direct payments apply to some groups, for example disabled children* and mental health service users.
* The obligation on local authorities is to provide services to children in need. As the main beneficiaries of services are disabled children, this term is used throughout this guidance, and it should be read as including all children in need.