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Self Directed Support is part of the Transforming Your Care strategic approach to developing Person Centred Services. It is a pathway where individuals are enabled and encouraged to have more choice and control in how their care and support is provided. Self Directed Support is available as a way to meet the needs of individuals who access social care in both children and adult services.
This series tells the service users story on how self-directed support can improve health, wellbeing and maintain independence at home and gives listeners a unique insight into how the process could benefit those currently in Northern Trust arranged support.
Direct Payments EP2
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Welcome to the Northern Health and Social Care Trust podcast series, providing information on self directed support and direct payments. These podcasts will provide an insight into service user and carers experiences. It is hoped this will give those wishing to explore this option to meet their care needs and understanding of the process and how it works.
This episode, supporting carers through use of direct payments. comes from the Larne Integrated Care Team and today we are talking to Adelaide.
So Adelaide, for the people listening today, to help them understand how you came to consider direct payments, can you give me a wee bit of background about your care and role and the support you provided to your late husband, Fergie?
He was diagnosed actually eight years past in May with stage four cancer prostate. They said maybe a couple of years, but he actually lasted eight years, which was a miracle. Now, the six of those years were great, because he was still mobile and could drive. So, those six years were precious. And then now, as I say, it would last a couple of years when he was more or less confined.
I had a carer, carers coming in four times a day, which was great. But in between I had to be on my own with him, and during the night. And, uh, this went on for, as I say, a good year and a half, I don't know. And then I, uh, started to hear about the, you know, payments that I could have somebody in for four hours.
That four hours a week was great. And they were very good with him, you know. He, he was able to talk. He wasn't senile or, you know, had dementia or anything. He was just grand. Um, and he was very jokey. And he enjoyed it with the girls. It was a couple of the main two carers. But, uh, the two girls that came weekly.
It was brilliant for me. It really was. It was something I could I look forward to, to go, you know, then they knew I was going out. That was my wee bit of time. I had been doing this for quite a number of years with two very close friends. And we went out at least once every week we would've went for. Lunch and then coffee and, you know, mosey around shops or whatever.
Um, four hours was perfect. Uh, at first I wasn't keen to sort of leave him. But then he started to say to me too, you know, you should get away. But everything was very good, I have to say. I appreciated it all and it was very, very great for me. Yeah. I really enjoyed it because the girls were very jokey and, you know, um, they joked with him, you know, and carried on.
And that was a bit of a relaxation for him. And then I suppose the direct payment obviously offered you the flexibility, um, to work around, you know, obviously, if something did pop up. I could cancel or whatever. I was able to say to the girls, you know, well, that'll suit you. And they were very good at, you know, said, all right, that's no problem.
And at Christmas, you know, they were able to come and, you know, You know, got up. Got up. It was very, it was really good for me. It was very flexible and I have to say I would advise anybody to take a chance on it because Yeah, I know you said there earlier, obviously, it was a bit scary at the start. Oh yes, see, that bit.
Because paperwork, things like that. How did you manage that? Was there, did you use Centre Independent Living or? I did use the Centre. They actually done , you know, worked out the hours, which is, it's all paid for and I had insurance. As well, which I paid for, and then I was refunded that. I started to use my bank online because of Fergie's position, and being that, it's handy for me to pay things, you know, through my phone.
Um, so I knew a wee bit. I had to ring up, and the girls were very good in direct payments, you know, and they The Centre of Independent Living says don't worry, you can ring any time. Um, they're very helpful, I have to say. So, with finance, it's everything else, you just have to crawl before you can walk.
It's nothing. I know, so you were saying there you use the Centre of Independent Living. Um, so what kind of things, obviously you have to go through the Access NI process and things like that. What kind of support did they give you? They, I have to say, were, were great because at the start I was a bit, oh, I thought I've done this wrong when I was putting the hours in and I was muddling myself up.
And the girl, it was usually girls were on and they were very, very good. Don't worry about it. We'll fix that. Just ring any time if you're not sure, you know, we'll get you sorted and I have to say I never had any problem with them. I didn't. It was very, very good. It was once I got in the swing of it, it was, they, they didn't really, I didn't have to do enough a lot except put the hours in and that, you know, for the girls.
What kind of things did you have to do to prepare for the direct payment? So, you know, like your insurance, what steps did you take? I think they, uh, they gave me three insurance companies, and I sort of picked the middle one I picked, which was great, it was no problem, and it was a matter of just paying it, and then I was refunded, the money was refunded, and, um, I didn't have anything to do with the actual money, it was in an account.
And I was able to transfer the two carers that were coming in, the carers. It was only a matter of me getting their details and me transferring their money every month. And was that a separate bank account you had to It was a separate bank, there was nothing to do. It was in my name, but I couldn't go and rip money out of it, so, you know, which was good.
So that's part of one of the steps in direct payments, isn't it, for the bank account and the insurance? Yes. Okay. Um, that was really It's great. I mean, Fergie passed away. Uh, they, I rang to tell the Centre of Independence that it had happened. And they said, oh right, you can let us know. They were very good.
They let me know the details and they said that the girls would be entitled to pay, you know, notice and all. They done everything. That's great. That's great. Um, and I suppose as a carer as well, you know, there's not enough support. So, um, I know you availed of respite. Yes. So tell me why the direct payment worked a wee bit better than by providing respite?
Well, the respite would have been the hours per week the direct payment suited me because I was able to say, well, next week for four hours on such and such a day. Well, she was able to tell me if she wasn't, one of them was always. Thankfully free. And I could plan my four hours out that day, you know, whatever I wanted to do.
Uh, whereas I don't know that the respite would have been working the same. I don't know. Yeah, it's not as flexible. Flexible as that. Yes, that's the word. Okay. But I, I have to say it works for me and hopefully anybody else that wants to use it definitely should. And tell me this, how did you find your PA?
Did you find it hard to, to find somebody? Your PA, sorry, is your personal assistant. Did you find it hard? to get carers that want it to do that role? Well, I actually, Fergie had been having carers for quite a while. And, you get to know your carers, the carers coming in, when they're coming in every day. Um, and it was seven days a week.
So, and there was a couple of ones, there was, I could have said four or five, probably, who really connected with Fergie and I both. And they were quite regular seemed to be more regular. Sometimes it wasn't always the same ones. But there was a couple, and then there was a Just a couple of the girls had actually said to me that we're off such and such a day if you want to meet for coffee.
Because one of the other girls said, you know, she was sitting, she says if you're not doing anything special. And then we became friends, the two girls that actually did the whole thing, they did it the whole time. Um, then, oh, they were great. They just became very, very good friends. That's great. And, uh, they did love Fergie.
I have to say, it was very good. I was very, very lucky. But I can't say anything about any of the girls. They were all very good. And to Fergie, every one of them were, it was a pleasure having them in the house. Yeah. Direct payments are great. I do recommend anybody. I just want to ask you, as a carer, obviously there is, you know, there's not enough support, I don't think, for carers out there, you know, for family.
Um, so do you think direct payments has supported you as a carer? Oh, definitely, definitely. The two girls I had were brilliant. They really were. Four hours maybe doesn't seem a lot, but actually it is a lot when you haven't got an hour, even really, you can say, well, this is my hour. You know, four hours is great
and like sometimes, there was not a few times I didn't go anywhere as such, but I just went around the corner, maybe visit a friend and had to run back again, you know, didn't have to rush. So, I mean, it was very, very good for me. I recommend it definitely. Okay. So just talking about the assessment process and how really direct payments can be applied for, you know, for everyone's obviously assessed separately than yourself.
Um, so you got a carers assessment and a need was established there that you need a wee break from your caring role. Um, and that's when you were offered the direct payments, um, for a sit in service. So we then applied for the funding for that. And, you know, you got a personal budget. Applied to yourself and then that would have been the total of 16 hours per month.
Yeah. Um, so how really How did you use that funding and the flexibility of a direct payment for the carers? Well, um, I didn't, you didn't always have to use your four hours every week. The flexibility with your carers, if they're willing, you could use maybe a few hours at night and Miss a week, then if they've done extra hours at night, you know, say I run into six hours or something, well, you'd say, well, I'll only have two hours next week, you know.
So it was pretty flexible, and I think the thing is, if the girls are willing, they're flexible, and if you can get them. Yeah, yeah. And then I was saying, I was saying about funding and your personal budget. You know, how is the carers then paid? Are they paid that budget? Yeah, they're paid for four hours.
The two carers were paid four hours every other week actually, both, but now if And you were supported then by the Centre for Independent Living? Yes, the Centre, uh huh. With all that paperwork? They, uh, were very good. And I have to say, I got, they sent me paper as well. You don't always get paper, but I like to see them writing.
And for it kept me right, you know, I got it. The statements, but it actually sent me, uh, paper copies as well. Yes, because essentially you're the employer. I'm the employer, yes. But it kept me right, too, you know. It's easy enough in the sense that they do the work, if you know what I mean. You just don't do what you're told, if you know what I mean.
Um, really. You just, they advise you and tell you and they are helpful. In this episode we've discussed the flexibility of direct payments to support carers and Adelaide has provided a great insight into how direct payments has supported her in her caring role. Thank you very much for coming today Adelaide and giving us a bit of your background um, and how direct payments has supported you.
very much, you're welcome. In the podcast summary, you'll find a short survey link, which we would really appreciate you taking a few minutes to complete and help us to receive feedback on the podcast you've been listening to today.