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The Independent Living Team FAQ's

Independent Living Team - June 2011
independent.living@kirklees.gov.uk

Questions

What is monitoring?

Monitoring is any documents and other evidence you have to show how you have spent your direct payment money. This could include bank statements, timesheets for PA's, or invoices from agencies.

For more information on monitoring see our section on monitoring here. Visit managing your direct payment
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What a Direct Payment can and cannot be used for?

A direct payment is simply another way of delivering the service you have been assessed as needing and can only be used for meeting those needs. You will have an amount of flexibility around who delivers your care, what time, and how it is carried out. Your direct payment cannot be used for any other purpose.

Some practical examples
  • You may have been assessed as needing a one hour call at lunchtime for someone to help you prepare a meal and you have employed a Personal Care Assistant. You may choose to go out for lunch occasionally instead, with the support of your carer. The direct payment is to pay for the time the carer spends with you and not for your meal, or your carer's.

    The choice you will have to make is whether to pay for your meal and your carers from your personal funds, or pay for your own meal only and understand that your carer will simply accompany you but not eat with you.

  • You may have been assessed as needing 1:1 support to access community activities, or just to provide a complex package of support. If you ask your carers to take you out in their own car, you should agree a rate per mile and record this on a claim form. This must be paid from your own personal funds, not from your direct payment account.

Some simple solutions
  • Kirklees +1 passport allows a carer to accompany you free of charge to certain cinemas and theatres throughout Kirklees. Ask at any Kirklees Information Point for an application form.

  • Agree in advance with your carer what their duties will be and make sure these are reflected in the job description.

  • Take advantage of Buy One Get One Free deals in pubs and restaurants and let your carer have the free meal.

  • Make sure your carer understands their role if they accompany you at a social occasion. Are they part of the group or would you prefer them to sit at another table with a book until you need assistance?
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Payment dates for this year

Your Direct payment will be paid into your bank account on the following dates: (You will no longer receive a notification from the Finance section that the payment has been made)
  1. 28 March 2011
  2. 04 April 2011
  3. 11 April 2011
  4. 18 April 2011
  5. 25 April 2011
  6. 02 May 2011
  7. 09 May 2011
  8. 16 May 2011
  9. 23 May 2011
  10. 30 May 2011
  11. 06 June 2011
  12. 13 June 2011
  13. 20 June 2011
  14. 27 June 2011
  15. 04 July 2011
  16. 11 July 2011
  17. 18 July 2011
  18. 25 July 2011
  19. 01 August 2011
  20. 08 August 2011
  21. 15 August 2011
  22. 22 August 2011
  23. 29 August 2011
  24. 05 September 2011
  25. 12 September 2011
  26. 19 September 2011
  27. 26 September 2011
  28. 03 October 2011
  29. 10 October 2011
  30. 17 October 2011
  31. 24 October 2011
  32. 31 October 2011
  33. 07 November 2011
  34. 14 November 2011
  35. 21 November 2011
  36. 28 November 2011
  37. 05 December 2011
  38. 12 December 2011
  39. 19 December 2011
  40. 26 December 2011
  41. 02 January 2012
  42. 09 January 2012
  43. 16 January 2012
  44. 23 January 2012
  45. 30 January 2012
  46. 06 February 2012
  47. 13 February 2012
  48. 20 February 2012
  49. 27 February 2012
  50. 05 March 2012
  51. 12 March 2012
  52. 19 March 2012
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How do I find a PA?

  • A PA can be a friend or family member who does not live in the same house.
  • We can search our PA database for a suitable person.
  • You can put a job advert in the local paper, shops, the jobcentre, etc. We can help you with this.
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How do I get a CRB check for my PA's?

Please contact us and we will send you a form. We also pay for it.
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