Website of the Department of Health

If you would like to have more control over how your child's services are provided, you could consider using direct payments.

You can receive money to buy services from an organisation or employ a person instead of Social Services arranging the services for you. For example, you could employ a carer to provide short breaks or respite care for your child or you could use direct payments to purchase a nursery placement.

August 2006: An updated version of the parent's guide is available on the Every Child Matters website.

• Aiming High for Disabled Children: A parent's guide to direct payments (opens new window)
• Download 2003 edition (PDF, 57K)