Direct Payment Support Service

Milton Keynes City Council is committed to encouraging individuals to utilise direct payments wherever possible in order to give them choice and control over the care and personalise this around their needs.

Milton Keynes City Council wishes to procure a Direct Payment Support Service to support individuals accessing both adult and children social care, to help them consider whether a direct payment is suitable for them and if so, to support them to set up appropriate arrangements to ensure their care needs are in place. The contract will be on a block contract basis.

The Council wishes to work with providers who can demonstrate and deliver a Direct Payment Support Service model which can meet the outcomes and support needs of our service users whilst achieving and maintaining value for money. This service will provide: o An information and advice service to answer queries from individuals about direct payments or becoming an employer o An employment service to explain how a direct payment arrangement could work and what would be involved in becoming an employer. Should individuals or families wish to become an employer, the service will support individuals to achieve this. This would include providing a PA Register. o A payroll service to support individuals and families to make payments to their care providers o A holding account service to administrate direct payment funding on behalf of employers o A direct payment support service to support individuals or families to reduce the risk of the direct payment arrangement failing.

The overall purpose for the service provided under the specification is to: o Support individuals to make informed decisions around direct payments and the possibility of becoming an employer o Increase individual's or families' choice and control over their care o Improve the wellbeing of individuals by ensuring their care is tailored to their needs o Support individuals and families to maintain their package of care