Southend DP Support

Back to Direct Payment Support Services

Through Essex Coalition of Disabled People, Southend Borough Council have provided access to an independent support service for potential DP Users.

Direct Payments are offered to anyone who is eligible for a Social Care service as an alternative to home care provided by Southend Borough Council.

The purpose of Direct Payments is to enable a person to purchase their own support (often by employing their own Personal Assistants), or purchase equipment, offering more choice and control over what assistance they receive and when.

Southend DP Support is supported by Southend Borough Council

The Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS)

Southend DPSS screens all requests for a Direct Payment. The client is then contacted to discuss their support requirements and, if required, a home visit will be arranged.

Southend Direct Payment Support Service also provides support and information to family members, social workers and their colleagues.

Personal Assistance Support Services (PASS)

Payroll Services

We can make payments on your behalf to your Employees or pay your Care Agency fees

Telephone Support

Each weekday 8:30am to 4:00pm we can offer advice regarding your Direct Payment/Employer/Employee concerns etc.

Payment Facilities

We can make cheque payments by post to your employees or you can use our banking service to make payments direct into Bank Accounts.

Quarterly Returns

These can be completed on your behalf, even if you make your own payments to your staff.

Advertising

We can help you to recruit your staff by advertising through newspapers or providing postcards adverts for you to place in your local shops, we now offer the opportunity to advertise through this website.

We can also act as an intermediary, sending application packs, receiving them from the applicant, forwarding them on to the DP Users or their ILA if they are being supported with the recruitment process.

CRB Disclosures

ECDP can provide DP Users with a checking service through the Criminal Records Bureau.

Training

We can provide FREE training for you and your Personal Assistant in such areas as; Employing a PA, Moving and Handling, First Aid training etc. (more information)

Southend DPSS work in conjunction with other services, including:

S.U.N (Southend Users Network)

The Southend DP Support Service is hoping to form a peer support group for people in receipt of Direct Payments and for those that would like to find out more about DPs. Run and controlled by Disabled People, SUN will aim to develop a working partnership between organisations of Disabled People AND Southend Borough Council to promote the Independent Living agenda.

DP Users will have an opportunity to meet quarterly throughout the year to express their opinions to Southend Council as to how Direct Payments are working within the Borough. There will also be an opportunity for users to share their experiences, and for people considering using Direct Payments to talk to others already using the scheme.

S.U.N will develop their own Newsletter and this will be available shortly. S.U.N Newsletter will be packed full of helpful advice and up to date articles about Direct Payments in Southend.

For further information on Southend DP Support, please contact us.