Social services - Direct Payments

Direct Payments

If your Needs Assessment shows that you are eligible for Council social care services, you will be given the option of receiving Direct Payments. Direct Payments are monies we give you to buy the services you need yourself, instead of the Council arranging them for you. This allows you more choice and control over which types of services you receive and when you receive them.

We will agree with you a Care Plan to meet your assessed needs and associated risks to your independence. You can spend the money we give you to purchase services to meet the objectives in your Care Plan.

You can use your Direct Payments to purchase a wide range of social care services from independent and voluntary sector providers. You can use your Direct Payments to purchase equipment to meet your needs. Or you may choose to employ a personal assistant to help you with your care needs and daily living activities.

You cannot use Direct Payments to purchase care directly from the Council, or to pay for permanent residential care. You may use Direct Payments to purchase short-term residential respite care.

We will ask you to open a bank account specifically to receive your Direct Payments and to pay for services using your Direct Payments. We will need to make sure that you are spending your Direct Payments in a way that meets the objectives in your Care Plan. Your social worker or occupational therapist will visit you to review your needs and circumstances at least once a year. If your circumstances change in between reviews, you should let us know so we can adjust your Direct Payment accordingly.

If you need help in managing your Direct Payments, or if you don’t want to manage them yourself, you can ask a member of your family or a friend to manage them for you. Or we can arrange for you to receive help from Enfield Disability Action (EDA) who offer support services for people in receipt of Direct Payments.

We will pay your Direct Payments into your nominated bank account net of your contribution towards the cost of your care. We will ask you to sign a Direct Payment Agreement that sets out the terms and conditions of Direct Payments. Your Direct Payment Agreement will show the amounts and dates on which Direct Payments will be made, and how much you need to pay into your Direct Payment bank account to cover your contribution towards the cost of your care. You will be advised how often we will need to see your bank statements and any other documentation we may need to see to so we can monitor your contributions and monies spent.

If you choose to receive Direct Payments, we will give you a Direct Payments Information Pack that explains everything you need to know about receiving Direct Payments.

If you are already receiving Council social care services and would like to change to Direct Payments, please contact Enfield Council on 020 8379 1000 and speak to a Customer Services Advisor.

Eligibility

Who can receive Direct Payments?
You can receive Direct Payments if you are 16 or over and assessed by Enfield Council as needing services or equipment.

Direct Payments can be made to:
• Older people
• People with a learning difficulty
• People with a physical disability
• People with a sensory impairment
• People with a long-term illness
• People with mental ill health
• A Carer, aged 16 or over, who cares for someone over 18 who has needs as described above
• An adult with parental responsibility for a child who has a disability.

Enfield Council will offer Direct Payments to everyone who is eligible. The law excludes some groups of people from receiving a Direct Payments. They are:

• People undergoing treatment for mental ill health or substance misuse as a condition of discharge or a compulsory court order
• People going through the Criminal Justice system, including people on probation.

Required Customer Information
See Above.

Service Level Agreement and Turnaround
Not Applicable

More information about this service

Contact Us

Frequently asked questions

Telephone:
020 8379 1000
You can also contact the Direct Payments Support Team at Enfield Disability Action, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have about Direct Payments on:
020 8373 6349

Textphone: 020 8373 6270
Email: directpayments@e-d-a.org.uk

Fax:
020 8379 6223

Address:
Information can be given from

Adults with Disabilities and Older People Team
Health and Adult Social Care:
219-221 High Street
Enfield
EN3 4DX

Adults with Learning Difficulties Team
Health and Adult Social Care,
2nd Floor
St Andrews court
1-4 River Front
Enfield
EN1 3SY

To contact any of these teams, please call the Enfield Council Customer Services Centre on:
Telephone: 020 8379 1000
Fax: 020 8379 6458
Textphone: 020 8379 6551

For people with mental health problems and their carers, please contact your local Community Mental Health team (CMHT)

Enfield Town / East Enfield CMHT
58-60 Silver Street
Enfield
EN1 3EP
020 8379 4142/ 020 8379 3977

North Southgate CMHT,
Crown Lane Clinic,
25 Crown Lane,
Southgate,
N14 5SH
Telephone: 020 8361 1770

South Southgate CMHT,
Suffork House,
451 Green Lanes,
Palmers Green,
N13 4BS
Telephone: 020 8920 2000

Edmonton CMHT
305-309 Fore Street
Edmonton
N9 0PD
020 8887 0606

Typetalk:
18002 020 8379 1000

Textphone:
020 8379 6651

Opening Hours:
Offices are open Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm.

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