Direct Payments - Who We Are

The Direct Payments Support Service

Based at Kingston Centre for Independent Living, we have been supporting disabled people to manage their Direct Payments since 1995.

The Direct Payments Support Service is made up of the Direct Payments Scheme Co-ordinator, an Outreach and Advice Worker, an Information Officer and a Direct Payments Assistant.

Dan Wilson, Direct Payments Co-ordinator

"I have been the Co-ordinator since March 2008. I'm on hand to help if things get difficult. I make sure that the service user's money is in their bank accounts on time for them to pay their staff. I run training for Direct Payments recipients and for social workers. I work closely with officers from the Council to ensure that we are running an efficient and helpful service. I have to keep up to date with all the changes the Government makes in their policies about Direct Payments. I meet with colleagues in other Direct Payments Schemes so that I can find out the best of what's going on elsewhere, and make use of it for the benefit of Kingston's Direct Payments users."

Julie Turner, Outreach and Advice Worker

"This new post was created in 2002 in response to the rapid growth in the number of people interested in learning more about direct payments. I promote direct payments to different community groups, and part of my job is to work with people from under-represented groups, such as people with learning disabilities, parents of disabled children, and young people. I support people taking up a direct payment on every aspect of getting started on the scheme, such as recruitment, and learning the scheme's paperwork requirements."

Anne Frayda, Information Officer

"I've been part of the Direct Payments Support Service since 1999. I take charge of the written information and promotional materials about the Direct Payments Scheme, including the Personal Assistant Users Group Newsletter, the PAUG Update. I'm constantly looking at ways of making our information easy to understand and 'user friendly.' I maintain the Personal Assistants Register – a database of people who are interested in working as personal care assistants. Any of us on the Support Service can run a search of the database and send you a list of names and telephone numbers of potential PAs whose availability matches your requirements."

Sheila McLeod, Direct Payments Assistant

"I have been with KCIL since November 2001. My job includes preparing the paperwork for issuing Direct Payments, checking claims sent in, and monitoring timesheets, bank statements, etc. I am on hand to deal with queries and provide help with any of those aspects of the scheme."

We work together to provide a flexible and friendly service.

• We are able to help with all aspects of recruiting personal assistants and how to be a good employer.
• We can help with wording and placing an advertisement, writing job descriptions and contracts of employment.
• We can help with tax and national insurance issues and other legal obligations.
• We can provide resources such as an interview room.
• We will ensure that all the costs of being an employer are reimbursed.
• We facilitate peer support groups, such as a direct payment users network.
• We offer information and training both on a one to one basis and in groups.
• We organise Personal Assistant User Group meetings and training sessions so that direct payment recipients can meet each other to share ideas and hear from other users.
• We have developed close links with neighbouring boroughs' direct payment schemes in order to share the benefits of experience and information.