Help shape our Adult Social Care Direct Payments Policy
Feedback updated 24 Jul 2025
We asked
Between 26 November 2024 and 19 January 2025, we carried out an online survey that sought views on a new Adult Social Care Direct Payments Policy.
The new policy aims to introduce Direct Payments for transport services to meet certain needs and change how carers’ Direct Payments are managed.
Drop in events were held alongside the consultation for people to find out more information.
You said
There were 14 responses to the online survey and 1 respondent fed back in person.
The following provides a summary of the key responses:
- 86% agree with the suggestions to include, within the Direct Payments Policy, an option for eligible people to receive a Direct Payment and manage their own transport.
- 86% of respondents flet that the Policy should include information about the application process.
- 79% of respondents stated that they would like information relating to review and appeals, procedures, training and resources to help manage a Direct Payment.
The Consultation Analysis Report can be found as Appendix A of the Adults Direct Payment Policy Agenda item (item 300), Cabinet Tuesday 4th March 2025.
We did
All responses were considered and helped to shape the final draft of the Adult Social Care Direct Payments Policy. Cabinet approved the Policy during its meeting on 4 March 2025.
The policy became operational from 1 April 2025.
Overview
We are proposing a new Direct Payments Policy to underpin our current approach to how we process and operate direct payments for Adult Social Care. A new policy will enable us to be transparent and consistent with our approach to adults Direct Payments. We are asking for your views to help shape what should be included in our policy.
In this new policy we would also like:
- To introduce Direct Payments for people with transport requirements to access services that meet their eligible needs,
- To change the way that carers Direct Payments are considered and managed, in line with the Council’s Carers Strategy.
What are Direct Payments?
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A Direct Payment is a method of managing some or all of a personal budget. Instead of arranging services, the Council makes regular financial payments to the person or carer so that they can arrange their own Care and Support or Support. This allows them to choose how to use the money to meet the needs that the Council has agreed to meet (either under its duty or powers).
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Direct Payments can be paid directly to the person needing the Care and Support (or carer needing support) or to another person who they nominate. If a person with care and support needs lacks capacity, the Direct Payments can be paid to an authorised person.
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A financial assessment is completed for anyone who chooses to have their care and support needs met by a Direct Payment to understand how much they can pay towards their care costs. This is usually deducted from the amount that the Council pays, and recipients will need to arrange to pay their contribution into their Direct Payment account.
Further information on Direct Payments are available on the West Northamptonshire Council website.
Background
WNC currently spends £19.84 million on Adults Direct Payments each year, which is about 13% of the total Adult Social Care budget. Additionally, the Council is expected to spend around £1.8 million on Adult Social Care transport services in 2024/25, against a budget of £1.3 million.
Introducing Transport Direct Payments is expected to increase costs by about £265k. However, it will save around £500k on transport services, resulting in a net benefit of about £235k.
For Carers Direct Payments, the costs are expected to remain the same.
Events to find out more
We are running drop in events for people to attend to get more information and to have their say. You only need to attend one event. There is no booking system. People can drop at any time during the event.
| Date | Time | Location address |
|---|---|---|
| 3 December 2024 | From 5.30pm to 7pm | Moulton Library, Moulton Community Centre, Moulton, Reedings NN3 7AX |
| 4 December 2024 | From 4pm to 6pm | Towcester Library, The Forum, Moat Lane, Towcester, NN12 6AD |
| 5 December 2024 | From 4pm to 6pm | Daventry Library, The Abbey Advice and Resource Centre, St John's Square, Daventry, NN11 4XG |
How to have your say
You can tell us your views in one of the following ways:
- Attend one of the drop-in events, details above
- Complete the online survey using the link at the end of this page
- Email us at: MAPMonitoring.NCC@westnorthants.gov.uk
- Write to us at:
- Help shape Direct Payments Policy
- Finance Operations - Direct Payment Team
- West Northamptonshire Council
- The Guildhall
- St Giles' Street
- Northampton
- NN1 1DE
If you have any queries or require the survey in another format, please contact us by using the contact details provided above, or phone on 0300 126 7000.
This consultation closes on midnight Sunday 19 January 2025.
For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see West Northamptonshire Council's consultation and engagement privacy notice.
What happens next
All responses will be considered and will help to shape the Direct Payments Policy presented to Council's Cabinet meeting in February 2025, which if agreed, will be operational in West Northamptonshire from 1 April 2025.
Your feedback will be part of a report with other people’s feedback, you will not be personally identified
Interests
- Adult social services
- Consultations
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