Welcome to www.CompassDisabilty.org.uk

About Direct Payments in Wiltshire

Since 2003, Social Services have had a legal duty to offer a Direct Payment to anyone who is eligible for Community Care services and meets the Direct Payment eligibility criteria.

Anyone living in Wiltshire, who believes they may be entitled to a Direct Payment should contact the Department of Adult Care Services at Wiltshire County Council and ask for a Care Assessment. If you already have a Social Worker or Care Manager you should contact them. The Care Assessment will be carried out under the Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) criteria. If you are eligible, you can decide whether your care needs are met via Direct Services (Wiltshire County Council provide the services) or via Direct Payments, so that you can control the delivery of your Care Plan. You can choose to have a combination of Direct Services and Direct Payments if you wish.

To download a leaflet about Direct Payments click below.

Direct Payment in Wiltshire

Click here for an Easy Read leaflet

 

About Wiltshire Direct Payment Support Service (WDPSS)

Direct Payment users take on various responsibilities. Wiltshire County Council has contracted Compass Disability Services to provide a support service to Direct Payment and Independent Living Fund (ILF) users in Wiltshire. We aim to provide sufficient support to enable people to use these funds to live independent lives, having choice and control over how their care needs are met, and to support them in ensuring their responsibilities are met. We do this by providing the following services:

Direct Payment Advisors will visit every new Direct Payment or ILF user. This is to ensure that the user is aware of their responsibilities. The advisor will explain these responsibilities to you, ensure you are able to meet any requirements and offer support wherever needed. We can also arrange for an advisor to visit you when you are considering Direct Payments. They can also visit you if you have any problems or need any help once you are on Direct Payments.

Information and Advice can be provided in a variety of forms. If you have any questions you can telephone our Head Office on 0844 984 2828. This is a local call-rate number. Alternatively take a look at our online information sheets.

Peer Support is provided by experienced and confident Direct Payment users through our contract with the Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living.

Payroll advice and preparation is offered from our Head Office for anyone employing their own Personal Assistant.

Recruitment Support can be provided by our Direct Payment Advisors. There is also a small budget available to pay for advertising, which can be accessed via our Head Office. A PA register is also being developed, which can be accessed online or by telephoning Head Office.

Newsletters are sent to service users every two months and contain updates about Direct Payments, Independent Living and Employment Law.