Stockport Council is facing extreme financial pressures. These pressures mean that we have a number... More
Closes 12 February 2023
Closes 12 February 2023
Closes 12 February 2023
Closes 12 February 2023
Closed 31 January 2023
Closed 24 January 2023
Closed 15 January 2023
Closed 3 January 2023
Closed 30 December 2022
Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes
Participants were asked to consider the following eight proposed changes to the Adult Social Care Direct Payments Policy:
A total of 340 representations were received, with 259 responses from client/carers, 37 from members of staff and 44 from members of the public. A further 61 people were engaged through focus group discussions.
With overall agreement of fifteen percent for proposal three ‘Using a personal bank account’, this was the least agreeable of the eight proposals and was particularly unpopular with staff taking part in the consultation. Proposal six ‘Paying for Council services and using DPs outside the UK’ proved to be unpopular across all groups consulted, with just one in five staff agreeing with the proposal.
For clients and carers, proposal two ‘Support from family members’ proved to be the most agreeable with proposal one ‘Unspent funds’ and proposal four ‘Holiday costs’ a close second.
Strong themes have appeared throughout the consultation.
Responses about what people like about the proposals can be broadly set out into 3 categories:
Across all proposals, a key theme was that the policy would give greater control and flexibility to the client. It will also give greater flexibility to staff members who will be able to be more creative and have more responsibility when writing support plans. It was noted that this needs to be communicated to practitioners so that support plans can be altered to reflect the flexibility.
Respondents largely felt that the proposed changes would improve their own, or the person they care for’s mental health and wellbeing. This was particularly prevalent on proposals relating to unspent funds and leisure activities.
A key theme across the proposals was that the changes will help ease financial pressures felt by clients and carers. For example, travelling to appointments and other activities set out in the care plan, paying family members, and using Direct Payments to pay for leisure activities.
Responses about how the proposals could be improved can be broadly set out into 3 categories:
Respondents felt that the language under proposal seven: using your Direct Payment to pay for leisure activities could be rephrased. For example, the terms wellbeing or wellness should be used instead. Also, it was found that the language under proposal 6: paying for council services and spending your Direct Payment outside of the UK needs to be clearer.
A key theme across all proposals was that clarity and training is needed within the policy so that Practitioners can effectively and confidently write support plans and that clients and carers can confidently use their Direct Payment to fulfil their needs. Clarification is needed on proposal three that using the same bank is a choice, not a requirement and how this will be audited. Also, clear guidance on how Direct Payments can be used for holiday and/or respite, and travel. There also needs to be guidance on what leisure activities are acceptable and how this will be managed by practitioners. Furthermore, clarity is needed on whether there are any rules on people spending prolonged periods of time away from home. There also needs to be assurance that the policies will be linked to individual outcomes.
Another key theme across the proposals was a concern for the possibility of proposals being open for misuse. This was particularly prevalent through the proposals relating to unspent funds and paying family members. Respondents felt that there needs to be a defined process to reduce the risk of misinterpretation as funds are derived from the public purse.
Summary of the feedback we received and the action we plan to take in response to it:
Feedback |
Action proposed in response to feedback |
Repayment of monies reclaimed under old policy |
The Council has already contacted just over one hundred clients and carers where any reductions in care were made under the old policy. It has now reviewed the care needs for these clients and where necessary, reinstated support plans. If you were negatively affected by the previous policy and we have not yet been in touch with you, then please call us on 0161 218 1450 or email us at dp.review@stockport.gov.uk and we will respond as quickly as possible. |
Maintain consistent approach/interpretation of policy, and practitioners to be informed about how support plans can be altered to allow flexibility |
We have developed a staff training and communication plan. This consists of a series of briefings for managers in Adult Social Care, followed by a training programme for all staff who work on direct payments in Adult Social Care. We will also be providing updated written guidance and an e-learning training package for staff. This training programme will also have a focus on how social workers can develop flexibility in support plans. |
Ensure that policy is not abused – e.g., Paying families and paying for leisure activities |
We will monitor use of Direct Payment funds through our review and audit processes. This involves an initial check by the Brokerage Service and the allocated social worker within the first six weeks of a payment. This is to assure the council that the service user understands their responsibilities and is coping well with the expected administration of the account. A formal audit will be undertaken at four months – this allows time for a pattern of spend to be established and for the first bank statement to arrive. If there are no issues with the first audit, they will be carried out every six months. |
Rephrase communication asking for repayments to avoid stress to families |
We have already started to review all our correspondence to Direct Payment clients to ensure that it is written in a way that doesn’t cause unnecessary stress. We will share our revised documentation with the Stockport Advocacy Group to seek their feedback on our changes. |
Clarification needed that using the same bank account is a choice, not a requirement, and clarification on how using same bank account for DP will be managed in terms of audit |
We recognise that further guidance is needed for people using personal bank accounts to manage Direct Payments. We are in the process of developing this guidance, which will also include details of the processes we will use for auditing spend. |
Guidance on how Direct Payments can be used for holidays and/or respite |
We are currently working on improving the guidance and developing some examples to be included in our new policy. |
Guidance on what kind of travel Direct Payments can be used for i.e., to what places, what form of transport and fair travel costs |
We will be improving our guidance and providing examples in the new policy. |
Paying for council services and spending your Direct Payment outside of the UK language needs to be clearer, and guidance on using Direct Payments outside of UK will be managed by practitioners |
Examples will be included in the new policy and guidance will be provided for practitioners. |
Term ‘leisure’ re worded under proposal 7, and guidance on what leisure activities are acceptable and how this will be managed by practitioners |
We have removed the word ‘leisure’ from the Direct Payment Policy because we felt it was misleading, instead we will refer to wellbeing activities to meet a person’s assessed outcomes under the Care Act. We feel this provides clearer guidance for clients and carers. We will not be providing a list of which activities are acceptable as we feel that this is dependent on assessed care act needs and finding the best activity to help an individual meet those needs. However, we will still provide a list of activities that are not acceptable in the policy, such as those that involve gambling or alcohol. |
Guidance on whether there are any rules on people spending prolonged time away from home |
We will not be introducing any rules regarding prolonged periods away from home. |
We asked for your views on the potential introducton of a prebooked minimum journey free for Hackney Carriages.
There were real concerns regarding the proposal from people who either use hackney carriages or who are carers for people who use hackney carriages. Your told us of your concerns around the increased cost associated with a prebooked fare.
Yout said that you felt aggrieved by the proposal for a prebooked minimum fare and their response is that they would use private hire instead.
Results indicated concerns from service users regarding the request for the introduction of a minimum fare to be charged for prebooked hackney carriage journeys.
The concerns were re-laid to the hackney carriage trade association who have decided to withdraw their request for a prebooked minimum fare from the current fare review.
The hackney carriage trade association have asked the Council to undertake research with other local authorities to see if any similar schemes operate successfully in other council areas, so that the matter may be considered in any future hackney carriage fare review
We asked how far you agreed or disagreed with the Stockport Active Communities Strategy principles, approach, priority groups and action priorities.
There were a total of 94 responses to the online survey. 69.15% of respondents either agreed or strongly agreed with the proposed whole systems approach; 67.03% either agreed or strongly agreed with the proposed principles and approach; 70.22% either agreed or strongly agreed with the identified priority groups and 29.79% respondents felt that there were some action priorities missing. The key themes arising from the survey were that everyone needs to be included and that accessibility and inclusivity is of upmost importance. It is also about getting everyone involved through good communications and leading by example.
The next stage of development is the implementation plan and that is the stage when we will not only consider in detail what we propose to do to further support and facilitate activity for our priority groups but also consider how to measure impact.
For information about Stockport you can visit the Stockport Council website.
To have your say on Greater Manchester-wide initiaves you can visit the GMCA consultation site.