Direct payments for children with disabilities

Direct payments, which allow you to arrange care and services yourself instead of receiving them directly from your local trust, can be made to parents and carers aged 16 or over. This includes people with parental responsibility for a child with disabilities.

If you have parental responsibility for a child with disabilities

Following an assessment, direct payments can be used for a variety of services which offer your child stimulation, new experiences and independence. These include:

short breaks
assistance to attend an activity, for example a youth club
personal care

Employing somebody to provide support for your child

Where agreed following an assessment, you can use direct payments to employ a person to provide your child with support.

Local trusts can provide guidance about safe practice in employing carer-workers to work with your child. You can ask your local trust to help carry out a number of checks, including a police check to ensure the safety of your child. As the employer, the responsibility remains with you.

Child care services and holiday time

As a parent, or someone with parental responsibility, you should be supported to stay in work, or to return to work, if this is what you want to do.

If you have been assessed as needing help from social services, direct payments may help you make sure you have the right type of after-school or holiday provision to meet the particular needs of your child.

Specific queries

If you have an immediate enquiry about your own situation, your local trust is the best place to start. The trust will also be able to put you in touch with local support services.