Call to expand direct payments

Commission for Social Care Inspection chair Denise Platt has
called for Supporting People budgets to be translated into direct
payments.

In a speech to a social care conference in London last week, she
said the forthcoming green paper on adult services should consider
the move to promote independence for users. She also suggested
direct payments could be applied to NHS services.

At present the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funds
councils to commission support services for vulnerable groups
through Supporting People.

But Platt said: “If direct payments expand as the policy
intends, the real commissioners of social care will be the people
who need the care.”