Direct payments can be used to employ a carer or personal assistant.
Directly employing a carer
You can directly employ a carer to support your child at home or in the community. You would legally become an employer and this allows you to choose:
- who works with your child
- what support they will offer
- when they will work for you
Using an agency
You can also use the direct payment to buy support from a supply agency. You may not be able to choose your own worker and this can also be more expensive than employing directly. However, the agency would be the carers employer so you do not take on the responsibilities of becoming an employer yourself.
Paying for leisure activities for your child
Sometimes, it might be agreed for you to use the direct payment to pay for leisure activities for your child.
These might include:
- fees for leisure activities, such as swimming, soft play or music lessons
- entrance costs for cinemas, theatres and museums or going to watch sporting events
- admission costs for short breaks day trips, such as to the London Eye or to a theme park
- after school clubs if used as a short break
- admission costs for a carer, if required. Many venues provide free or reduced carer admission, however if they do not, a carer ticket can be purchased using the direct payment
- travel costs associated with a community based activity or short break. However, it is expected that children use TfL Travelcards or Taxi Cards for free or reduced cost travel wherever possible. Read more about accessible transport
- fees relating to the management of the direct payments support, including insurance and payroll fees
For regular activities, we recommend you consider buying annual passes. These often include additional benefits including free carer entry and represent better value.
What you can pay for in exceptional circumstances
Some costs that are not typically included in a direct payment but might be approved in exceptional circumstances with the agreement of your allocated worker as part of the support plan, are:
- buying leisure equipment such as musical instruments and electrical goods that are directly associated with the delivery of a short break and meet outcomes agreed within the care plan
- holiday breaks or to contribute to carer costs during a holiday break
- overnight respite care in the child’s own home
- school trips and holidays that are for a social or leisure outcome and not part of an educational need
- for grocery food shopping but in some circumstances food as part of a social activity can be agreed. Please discuss this with your worker
- for buying toys. However, in some occasions, it can be uses for sensory equipment or for specific play items. Please discuss this with your worker
- to pay a family member to provide care if they live in the child’s home or are the parent of the child receiving the care, even if they live in a different home. There may be very exceptional circumstances where this may be permitted. Please discuss this with your social worker if relevant to you
- services or support for children other than the child with a disability