Cardiff - Direct Payments

Cardiff Direct Payments Scheme

Cardiff Council has commissioned Dewis Centre for Independent Living to provide information, advice and support for people who are receiving Direct Payments or who wish to access Direct Payments. Details on how to access the service can be obtained from the Case Manager who will be able to advise on any other help or support that is available.

For further information contact:

Cardiff Learning Disability Team
P O Box 97
Cardiff CF11 1BP
Tel: 029 2053 6111

Dewis Centre for Independent Living

Amber House
Upper Boat Business Park
Upper Boat
PONTYPRIDD
CF37 5BP

Tel: 01443 827930
Fax: 01443 841922
Web: www.dewiscil.org.uk

Direct Payments for carers

The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 gives local authorities powers to offer assistance to anyone who provides regular and substantial care to someone who might need community care services. Carers also have rights to an assessment of needs in their own right as well as being included in the service users local authority needs assessment.

A local authority may decide that a person requires services because they provide, or intend to provide, a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for someone aged 18 or over. Carers (but not employees, persons working under contract or volunteers for a voluntary organisation) may obtain Direct Payments in respect of their own assessed needs for services as carers.

The types of help that can be given are wide-ranging and not limited to community care services. For example, if the person cared for refuses to accept help from anyone but a relative, the local authority might provide the relative with help with housework so that they had free time to assist the person who needed help.

The carer does not need to live in the same household as the person cared for, and they do not need to be actually receiving, or to have been assessed as needing a community care service.

Carers Wales provide information on all aspects of carers’ rights. For further information contact:

Carers Wales
River House
Ynys Bridge Court
Cardiff CF15 9SS
Tel: 029 2081 1370
Carers UK’s Adviceline on 0808 808 7777
The line is open 10 -12 and 2 - 4 on Wednesdays and Thursdays only.