Additional £7.1m for direct payments announced

Date published: 06 October 2022

Health Minister Robin Swann is providing an additional £7.1m for social care direct payments.

Visit to Independent Living

The funding for direct payments is in addition to previous support packages announced by the Health Minister to help alleviate pressures on the wider social care sector.

Minister Swann made the announcement during a visit to the Centre for Independent Living at Beechill Business Park, Belfast where he met with service users and personal assistants who are employed directly by them.

Minister Swann said: “Social care services continue to face significant pressures and will continue to do so if things do not change. I have been clear on the need for a longer-term solution, which includes multi-year budgets and sustained funding. Working on short term budgets, is not an efficient or effective way to build for the future.

“The £7.1m I have announced today is aimed at providing specific support for care provided through direct payments and follows previous support packages for staff in the domiciliary care and care home workforces. 

“Direct Payments are one option available under Self-Directed Support (SDS); an important component of social care that offers service users choice and control over how services are delivered.   This additional funding will allow disabled people more flexibility to employ individuals to best meet their specific needs ensuring a more personalised delivery of care.  Personal assistants employed through Self-Directed Support play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for the disabled person they are employed by and I am pleased to be able to recognise the value they bring to both individuals, and the wider Health and Social care system, by this £7.1m uplift.”

Minister visiting Independent Living

Direct Payments are available when someone has been assessed as needing help from social services and, would like to arrange and pay for their own care and support services instead of receiving them directly from their local health trust.

Today’s announcement should see carers who are employed directly by the person they care for receive an uplift of around 12% in their hourly rate.

The Health Minister added: “Today’s announcement is part of a rolling series of initiatives to support different parts of the health and social care system during current and expected pressures.

“This includes ensuring we have adequate staffing across social care which in turn will support the timely discharge of people from hospital.

“Last year, I announced a £23m allocation for domiciliary care and the wider social care sector to help employers provide improved terms and conditions to staff. A further £25m has been allocated this year to ensure uplifted rates could continue.

“While I have no doubt all additional funding is very welcome, I have to again put on record the unsustainable nature of the budgetary situation my Department is facing.

“The £7.1m I am announcing today is one of the many components of the significant and unprecedented overspend projected for the current financial year.”

Notes to editors: 

  1. Direct payments are made by a HealthTrust to someone they assess as needing social care and support services. More information is available online: Direct payments for carers | nidirect
  2. Caption, front row: Direct Payment employers Katy Megahey, Amanda Paul, Alison Lockhart and Deena Nimick.

    Back row: Bryan Myles, Chief Executive, Centre for Independent Living NI; Janeen Stevenson, Personal Assistant (PA); Joe McCue and Alan Paul, PAs; Health Minister Robin Swann; Julie Anne Martin and Claudia Valerio Sinclaire, PAs, and Liz Esler, Deputy Chief Executive, CILNI.

  3. For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
  4. Follow us on Twitter @healthdpt
  5. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service For Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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