Respite care
To be eligible for a respite allocation, your allocated worker will need to carry out a Care Act assessment and produce a care and support plan to enable this need to be identified as an unmet need.
In Kirklees, you can use direct payments to arrange and pay for respite care. This provides a short break for both carers and the people they support. Direct payments for respite must be agreed as part of a Care Act assessment and support plan, and they should link to your wellbeing outcomes.
Respite care is a short-term break from caring responsibilities. It can help:
- Carers who need rest, time for themselves, or a chance to recharge.
- People receiving care, who may benefit from a change of routine or environment.
If you receive direct payments to pay for respite, your budget is based on the local authority's standard nightly rate. You (your nominated person or authorised person) can choose a provider that costs more than this rate, but you will need to manage the difference. You can do this by:
- Paying a top-up: You pay the extra cost directly to the provider.
- Reducing the number of nights: You select fewer nights, so the total cost stays within your allocated budget.
If you choose a more expensive respite provider, and this uses your direct payments budget more quickly, additional respite nights will not be provided once the budget is spent. It is your responsibility to manage your respite allocation so that it meets your assessed care and support needs.
Please note: If you choose fewer nights than your assessed allocation, your overall respite budget will not be increased to cover the higher cost per night. This is because you have not used the full number of nights originally agreed in your care plan.
Overnight support at home
You may hire a personal assistant or agency to provide overnight care at home. This allows the carer to rest or go away while you remain in familiar surroundings.
Breaks away for the cared-for person
A respite budget can be used to help you access a short break or holiday where this meets your assessed care and support needs. While it cannot be used to fund the cost of your holiday itself, it may be used to cover the additional care and support costs required while you are away. This can include the travel and accommodation costs for a personal assistant (PA) or support worker who accompanies you, provided this has been agreed in your care and support plan. This helps ensure your support needs are met, allowing you to safely enjoy a change of environment and routine.
Receipts and records
You must keep receipts, invoices, and records of how the money is spent. This includes booking confirmations for respite stays; personal assistants' wage slips or agency invoices. Travel or activity costs if part of the respite.
Council's fixed rate vs. actual cost
Councils set a fixed hourly or daily rate for respite care based on their standard commissioned providers. If your chosen service charges more than this rate, you can still use it, but:
- You will need to cover the difference between the local authority rates, and the rate you have agreed to pay (also known as a top-up).
- The service must be appropriate for your assessed care needs.
For example: If Kirklees Council's rate is £100 per night and your preferred respite provider charges £150 per night, you would be responsible for ensuring the additional £50 per night top-up is placed into your direct payment account.
Policy and guidance
We've updated our direct payments policy and guidance - this will be introduced as user agreements are updated from Summer 2026.