Direct payments can be used to employ a worker.
Directly employing a carer
You can directly employ a worker 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 to meet the outcomes identified.
Workers employed with direct payments can care for children in the child's home or in the community. Children cannot be cared for in the worker's own home unless they are providing services as a registered childminder, or this has been explicitly approved as an exceptional circumstance.
Direct payment workers should be over 18 years old, however in exceptional circumstances 16 & 17 year olds may be approved.
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
Direct payments may be agreed for activities (not overnights or holidays).
Activities might include:
- fees for leisure activities, such as swimming or soft play
- entrance costs for cinemas, theatres and museums or going to watch sporting events
- admission costs for short breaks day trips, such as Kew Gardens, London Aquarium or day trips to theme parks such as LEGOLAND
- gym membership for the child/young person
- after school clubs if used as a short break
- admission costs for a worker, 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
- 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:
- travel costs associated with a community based activity or short break. It is expected that children use TfL Travelcards or Taxi Cards for free or reduced cost travel wherever possible. Read more about accessible transport
- buying toys, online gaming, leisure equipment such as musical instruments and electrical goods
- holiday breaks or to contribute to carer costs during a holiday break
- overnight respite care including 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
- food purchases as part of a social activity or grocery food shopping.
- 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.