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In this issue there is some really important issues at the beginning that you need to be aware of, as well as some good news stories and introductions towards the end.
- Personal Assistants tests and vaccinations
- Home Employer Insurer – what you need and why
- If you employ personal assistants, we have training for you
- Using care agencies and rates
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People who are working as Personal Assistants (PAs) are providing essential care and support. In Shropshire we will continue to raise the profile of PAs to be considered front-line social care staff in rapid testing and vaccination plans as they develop.
Already, the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital hub has begun by vaccinating the over 80s, care home workers and NHS workers who are at higher risk, as identified by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). This week, some GP surgery's in Shropshire are also starting to contact and vaccinate some of their patients. As vaccines become available, we will let you know who should come forward, how to book and where exactly to go to receive your vaccinations.
We will inform people as soon as we have details on the direct payment website (https://www.shropshire.gov.uk/adult-social-care/adult-social-care-and-coronavirus/direct-payments).
No-one can be made to have the Covid vaccination but ask your PA about whether they would be interested when its available. The PA’s personal details and consent will be needed.
It's important to continue to take care. Use PPE, maintain social distancing where possible and maintain hand hygiene as the risk of infection has not gone away even with roll out of jabs.
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Employers Liability is a legal requirement for all employers. Cover is there to protect you should any of your PAs suffer injury or illness whilst involved in work activities. Accidents at work can happen to anyone and having the necessary protection in place to cover the cost of compensation is the responsibility of any employer.
If you are an employer, then insurance cover should have been set up at the start of the Direct Payment. Please ensure that there is an insurance policy providing cover.
We want to make sure that all insurance policies include a good level of cover and we will be contacting those of you who are employers in the new year, to ask questions and hear your views about how it could be improved.
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We are pleased to announce that ‘Teme Training’ are offering ‘Good Boss’ Training Sessions to any employers of personal assistants in Shropshire.
The ‘Good Boss’ Training will be facilitated by Hillary Delaney Hall who said, “These are interactive sessions. We cover a diverse range of topics from advertising; Contracts of Employment; keeping records; setting boundaries such as “should my PA be my friend?” through to “what to do if it all goes wrong?”
The first session will be Thursday 14th January available via Zoom.
If you are interested in attending contact:
Bob Hall training@surreyilc.org.uk / 07514 093616 or the Direct Payments team direct.payments@shropshire.gov.uk
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Using care agencies and rates |
For anyone using an agency for their support, please be aware that all agencies have been informed that Shropshire Council will pay up to a maximum of £19.20 an hour. Some agencies are charging people using direct payments more than this amount. It is possible to choose to top up your direct payment for an agency of choice who isn’t on the Council framework. However, most are on the Council framework and have agreed to our framework rates, so shouldn’t be charging more just because it’s paid via a direct payment. If you think this applies to you, please contact your social care team.
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I'm a full-time carer for my adult daughter who has Down’s Syndrome. She’s past college and I don't think a day centre is for her. Instead, she goes horse riding, to the gym and other activities.
Since this madness started her routine has gone. We have no routine.
I could feel myself sinking into a deep depression being stuck in and I've noticed my daughter has her moments too. During lockdown I had a letter offering carers PPE. I contacted the Council and Chris, my knight in shining armour, appeared with PPE to help keep us safe.
A few months ago, my daughter started to pinch my skin care products. I am in an Elemis group on Facebook and I posted her using it. Since then, she has become an online sensation! Some companies have sent her products to trial and review. This gave us both reason to get up and have something to do. Now she gives demos, tips and product reviews. I believe it saved us both from going insane!
I use my direct payment for massages as I have a bad back and fibromyalgia. I’ve been unable to have a massage since Covid restrictions started. I read about a body pillow to sleep with as it aligns the spine and helps to give a more restful sleep. Sleep has been a struggle for years!!!
The brilliant ladies from Direct Payments rang occasionally to see how I was getting on during lockdown (which was really appreciated to be able to sound off). I asked if I could buy the body pillow with my direct payment. Thankfully, the direct payments team said yes. Good on them for thinking out of the box as everyone has different needs. If carers are cared for then we do a better job and let's face it, we save the government a fortune!!
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This brings me on to another idea. I’ve wanted a camper van for a couple of years but thought I would do it now. If my daughter is miserable, we can just up and go and have a change of scenery whilst social distancing. Having the toilet with us means we don't have to use public toilets.
Sometimes I've gone on my own when my husband is home. I come back feeling better for the break and continue doing what I do happier and with more energy.
We stopped overnight on a site a few weeks back, but the mattress was terrible. Yet again the direct payments caped crusaders agreed to let me use my money to get myself a better mattress for the camper.
My direct payment built up during this lockdown. There are so many other ways that it could be used to help us when we need it most. The Direct Payment team and social workers listened. I asked for help in these difficult scary times and they helped.
Stay safe everyone.
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Many, if not all of you, will already know the Financial Reconciliation Team. Here are some of the team.
The team complete financial check-ups for everyone who has a direct payment. They will contact you 3 months after a direct payment is set up, asking for documents including bank statements, invoices, pay slips and insurance policies to check the direct payment is running smoothly. Then they try to complete a financial check-up every 12 months where they will check that you’ve been paying in personal contributions and ask for documents.
A small percentage of people struggle with managing their direct payment. In these situations, the Financial Reconciliation team will keep in touch more often and offer a bit more support.
During lockdown, the team have been keeping busy doing lots of gardening; looking after pets and kids; ripping out bathrooms; redecorating and one person got married.
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What a year it's been! Who could have guessed how much day-to-day life could change. It has been a year where we have all felt scared, out of control and hopeless at times.
Yet, for some, self-isolation and lockdown hasn’t felt alien but normal. Barriers in society and difficulties getting the right support stop them living life how they want.
Direct Payments are one way to address a problem of off the shelf support which may not suit everyone. They give opportunity for custom built support around you as an individual.
However, criticism has been levelled at Direct Payments that they are so inflexible the potential for custom-built support is limited. One benefit of the challenges of Direct Payments this year has been increased conversations and ideas around flexible and creative support both in Shropshire and nationally. See one example of these conversation in Alison Swift’s story earlier in the newsletter.
We are helped with those conversations by a group of experts by experience, who either use a direct payment or support a loved one with their direct payment.
We would like to say a big thank you to the experts by experience who have committed to promoting and challenging direct payments in Shropshire through this rollercoaster of a year.
We stay dedicated to making Direct Payments simpler and better for all using them. We would love to hear your thoughts on how we can do this together. Let's hope we can look forward to more conversations in person next year.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!
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This newsletter has been produced by members of the Direct Payments Board. If you would like to comment or contribute ideas or stories, then get in touch directly through
direct.payments@shropshire.gov.ukThe newsletter will be a quarterly publication.
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