WITHDRAW
THE NEW DIRECT PAYMENT AGREEMENT
AND
LAUNCH A FULL USER-LED CONSULTATION
A social care and support package is
a vital resource for disabled people. Many disabled people opt for direct
payments (DP) to fund their care and support. A fundamental part of the direct
payments scheme is Personalisation. Personalisation should afford disabled
people flexibility, control, and of course choice.
Lambeth Council is currently rolling
out a revised Direct Payments Agreement Contract (DPA Contract). Lambeth
Council claims proudly to be a ‘Cooperative’ Council. Yet they uncooperatively
refused to take our concerns on board.
Many direct payments users who are
also members of the Lambeth Pan Disability Forum (LPDF)have expressed concern
over some of the revised terms within the DPA Contract. Indeed, some of the
terms in the contract do not comply with Care Act Guidelines and are contrary
to the spirit of Personalisation.
Basically, by signing the contract
disabled people are agreeing to surrender the flexibility that DPs afford them;
by complying with the contract they are, effectively, limiting their choice in PA/support
workers; and, losing control over their care and support packages.
Therefore, we the undersigned call
on Lambeth Council to withdraw their revised DPA Contract and put the document
out to DP users for an objective and transparent consultation process.
Signed:
Seán McGovern (Co-Chair of the
Lambeth Pan Disability Forum)
