Direct Payments

Direct Payments are one way that your local authority can provide your personal budget if you've been assessed as having eligible care and support needs. Instead of your local authority arranging all of your care, the funding is paid to you (or someone acting on your behalf), giving you greater choice and control over how your care is delivered.

With Direct Payments, you can use your funding in different ways, depending on your agreed Care and Support Plan. Many people choose to:

• Purchase care from a regulated home care provider, such as Melksham Homecare.
• Employ their own Personal Assistant (PA).
• Purchase equipment or services that help meet their assessed care needs.
• Combine different types of support to create a package that best suits their individual needs.

Direct Payments are designed to give you more flexibility, greater independence and real control over the support you receive. They allow you to decide who provides your care, when your visits take place and how your support is delivered, provided it meets the outcomes agreed in your Care and Support Plan.

If you prefer, your local authority can continue to arrange your care on your behalf instead, or you may be able to choose a combination of council-arranged services and Direct Payments, depending on your circumstances.

As a Wiltshire-based home care provider, Melksham Homecare primarily supports people living in Wiltshire and the surrounding areas. If your care is funded by a neighbouring local authority, we're still happy to discuss your options and, where possible, provide support.