H&F Direct Payments Support Service

Hammersmith & Fulham Council make payments to people who are eligible for social care services – these are called Direct Payments. They are designed to give Disabled people more independence, flexibility, choice, and control over how their care and support are arranged.

Ask your social worker or assessor to refer you to us. We can meet at our office, your home, or another convenient location to help you set up and manage your Direct Payment. We advise on:

• Options for managing your payments and support
• Choosing a suitable agency or provider
• Paying for activities in your community

If you’re thinking of using Direct Payments, we can:

• Answer your questions
• Introduce you to others who use Direct Payments
• Signpost you to useful organisations
• Provide ongoing support while you’re using your Direct Payment

Personal Assistants (PAs) for Direct Payment users

If you want to hire a personal assistant, we can help you:

• Write a job description
• Place adverts on job sites
• Arrange interviews, references, Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks, insurance, and contracts
• Refer you to a payroll service

We run a range of training courses for both Personal Assistants and individual employers receiving Direct Payments.

• For details of upcoming courses, email dpsupport@aod.org.uk or call us on 020 3080 0380.
• We can also guide you to relevant training opportunities elsewhere.
• Skills for Care offers funding for individual employers – we can help you apply.