In Control - Direct Payments

If you have parental responsibility for a disabled child, you may be able to receive money that you can use to organise your own care and support rather than having services provided by the local authority.  Direct payments can be made by social services after an assessment or need.

We operate as an extensive community network that is working for change and to provide people with the knowledge, power and tools to control their support.

This community for change includes:

• Individuals who need support as a result of age, ill-health disability or social disadvantage, together with their families
• User-led organisations
• Government and civil servants
• Local authorities, elected members and paid staff
• Health organisations
• Commercial companies
• Charitable and not-for-profit organisations
• General members of the public

Through this community for change, we:

• Work directly with people who need support, and with their families, to seek ways in which they can learn from and work together to provide mutual support
• Develop and test new and innovative ways for people to be in control of their lives
• Develop simple, effective ways of measuring the impact on people's everyday lives
• Give advice and information through factsheets, events, DVDs, books, leaflets, workshops, forums, events and by linking people with the right people who can help
• Hold a national overview of best practice and share this with our members

We're currently funded by central Government grants, fees from local authorities, health bodies and other organisations that enlist our help to implement personalisation, as well as through other grants and/or raised income for specific project work.