Purpose

Services
The Direct Payment Support Service will deliver the following
services for both Adults, Children and Families:
• Initial Direct Payment support
• Ongoing Direct Payment support
• Managed Account
• Personal Assistant (PA) Recruitment Support
• Disclosure and Baring Service (DBS) Checking Service
• Low PA management and employer support
• High PA management and employer support
Also ensuring the following additional services are in place, where
appropriate:
• Payroll
• Employer Liability Insurance
Each element of the above service will be accessed based on
individual eligible unmet needs,
through a social care worker’s/lead professional’s
assessment and referral.
The payment for these services received will be commissioned by
adults’ services and paid for directly by the council.
For the Children’s element of the service, the arrangement
will be a preferred provider arrangement, with the individual
funding the services from their Direct Payment (DP). Additional
choices, including access to Your Life Doncaster and the Local
Offer will be promoted when engaging with the service, as well as
greater access/ engagement with the community and increasing
independence.
Usage and Value
The estimated spend on services for Adults based on projected
numbers of DP users and trends in existing usage is expected to be
in the region of £180,250 annually, with the Payroll and DBS
services being paid for from the individual’s Direct Payment.
For Children’s, the estimated spend through the provider will
be £20,500 annually, this will be paid via the
individual’s Direct Payment.
Direct Payment Support will continue to be procured with a focus on
information, advice and guidance, promoting as much independence as
possible and upskilling and enabling individuals and families to
manage their own care and support.
Current provision
There are currently approximately 500 Adults using this Support
Service and approximately 50 Children (both are subject to
change).
Further development of the DPSS
The re-procurement of the DPSS supports the Direct Payments working
group initiated by the Assistant Director within Adults Wellbeing
and Culture to review the full Direct Payments process. The
contract contains detail of a possible future variation of a second
contract phase where all core service elements may be paid directly
from the individuals’ direct payment should this be
recommended by the review.
See attached Officer Decision Record regarding details of the
Proposed indicative Timeline:

Content

To award a Direct Payment Support Service
following a procurement exercise in line with Contract Procedure
Rules and the Public Contract Regulations 2015. The service, to be
mobilised by 01/02/24 for an initial period of 5 years with an
option to extend the contract by up to 24 months. Finance report
22/23 advises that budget code is permanent. Yearly cost estimate
is £180,250 for Adults and £20,500 for
Children’s.