Direct Payments

If you are living with a disability or condition that impacts your health, you may have sought help from your local authority. Direct payments allow you to receive cash payments from your local authority instead of care services. This can give you much more flexibility and greater control of your support package. We work with many clients who are in receipt of and pay for some or all of our support through Direct Payments.

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How do you work with Direct Payments recipients?

As with all funded care, navigating Direct Payments is far from straightforward and involves time and effort from both the service user and social worker to get the right care package and funding in place. That said, we work long term or have worked on a one off basis with several recipients of Direct Payments funding.

The Problem

Linda had been living with Multiple Sclerosis since she was in her twenties, lived alone and was increasingly struggling to keep in top of the administration involved in living independently at home.  Her MS meant she struggled cognitively too so all processes and procedures needed to be watertight. With multiple support workers involved in her care, it was vital to have structures in place for household items, paperwork systems, digital processes and to-do lists. She struggled to communicate via phone so everything needed to move to email based.


In addition, due to her local authority funded support, everything had to be documented meticulously. The very thing that was designed to simplify things added even more administration and planning. Linda contacted us in to create these structures around her so she could enjoy the fun things life a little more rather than staying at home dealing with administration.

The Solution

We had an initial consultation and Linda explained exactly what living with MS meant for her, both cognitively and physically. It was vital for us to have a feel for how her day to day living was impacted and what types of structures and processes would work for her. We agreed to try to enhance some of the things that were working and make suggestions to alter the things that weren't. Gradually, over several months and in short sessions..


  • We implemented a new structure for paperwork with labelling and categories that were logical.
  • We introduced a digital task management system that could be used and updated by all carers as tasks were worked on.
  • We looked at an email and general digital file structure to make it easier for her to find what she needed in an archive. Because of her cognitive issues, she needed to have access to information that other people may have been able to let go of.
  • We ensured there were documents listing all the steps for repeat daily and weekly tasks for her Support Workers so she did not need to keep retraining people whenever there was a turnover of staff.
  • We decluttered excess things from her home and organised and labelled cupboards and drawers in bedrooms and kitchens with accessibility and visibility front of mind.
  • We project managed renovation work and sourced tradespeople and we made phone calls on her behalf to ensure she was maximising the limitedfinds she had avaiable to her.
  • We sat in on Care Assessments with her Social Worker to explain our input and how it had helped and we were also involved in recruitment of replacement Support Eorkers when necessary.

The list was extensive and ever changing but most certainly helped alleviate stress and allow Linda to enjoy leisure time.

The case study above is a client we have worked with regularly over several years. When Social services were first approached about funding our services, they were reluctant as the hourly rate was higher than they typically paid for a Support Worker. Once we could explain the long term, sustained benefit of what we could offer, they were onboard. As the years have gone by and there is more understanding of how organisation and order can help someone with a health condition or disability, more Social Workers are seeking our service. We are approached by both Social Services working on behalf of service users and service users themselves.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of tasks can you help with?

We can help with any organisational or administrative tasks that are going to help you live an independent and happier life.

My needs are very different to most people. How do you deal with that?

We have worked with many mental, physical and neurological health conditions over the years but one thing is very clear. No two people have the same experiences. Every person needs a system and structure that is going to work for them and our job is to look at different strategies to create that. We have lots of suggestions ideas up our sleeves and will work with you to create the best solution.

Can you help me get Direct Payments?

Securing funding for Direct payments is something to do with your Local Authority or Social Worker. You can find information by searching for Direct payments online to see if you are eligible.