Other Organisations
EDDPSS offer a range of online resources aimed at assisting people involved in the use or support of Direct Payments in the East Dunbartonshire area. Here is our list of other organisations and agencies that have an interest in issues to do with Direct Payments:
Direct Payments Scotland
Direct payments allow people to purchase services to meet their community care needs instead of the local authority arranging services for them. Research shows Direct payments can increase the choice and control people have over their quality of life.
For example, direct payments can help people to live independently in their own home instead of in residential care, or they can help people move into training or education. Most people assessed as having community care needs by a local authority should be eligible to receive a direct payment.
Direct Payments Scotland has been established, with funding from the Scottish Executive, to increase the uptake of direct payments throughout Scotland. Partnership and capacity building are central to the project's success. The core aims are to:
Increase awareness of direct payments amongst community care users, local authority staff and service providers.
Establish and develop user-led support organisations.
Establish a national information service and provide good practice exchange.
Identify and address training needs for support organisations and local authority staff.
DPS monitor and evaluate their work on an ongoing basis to ensure that there is equity of access and provision of direct payments throughout Scotland. They will also feed their findings into national policy development.
DPS produce regular updates and newsletters on the development of direct payments in Scotland. If you would like further information about anything to do with direct payments, would like to be added to their mailing list, or have any suggestions to make about the project, please feel free to them at info@dpscotland.org.uk or visit the Direct Payments Scotland web site at:
Direct Payments Scotland Website
SPAEN
The Scottish Personal Assistant Employers Network, or “SPAEN”, is an organisation of disabled people run by disabled people from all over Scotland who recieve cash instead of services from the Scottish local authority social work departments to meet our community care needs. with this cash we employ our own staff, called “Personal Assistants”, or “PAs”
As PA Employers, we have the responsibility for the health, welfare and well being of our PAs. We undertake the responsibility of being good “PA Employers” to secure the quality of life we now enjoy.
Members of SPAEN have drawn up our own code of Practice, which will help PA Employers keep within the law and manage PAs properly. Members of SPAEN must agree to be bound by this code.
SPAEN is aware that the extent and quality of support to become good employers varies considerably from one local authority to another. Providing cash instead of services has improved our lives, but the lack of support and training in “independent living” and personnel management is of great concern.
SPAEN further recognises that for most PA Employers, the cash to pay PA wages is not always sufficient to meet our responsibilities under the law - let alone pay any annual increases. SPAEN therefore will support PA Employers in their local efforts to increase the funding of their community care packages.
SPAEN will raise public awareness of the inequality and injustice of community care charging. Disabled people should have the right to an independent life in the community and not have to pay for the privilege.
SPAEN is also aware that other groups, socially disadvantaged in some way, could in the future use a Direct Payment to employ PAs to control their own lives and may benefit from our experience as employers.
“SPAEN exists to be the authorative voice of all personal assistant employers in Scotland”
The Inland Revenue
The Inland Revenues network of Business Support Teams can answer any questions you may have on Tax and National Insurance as well as talking you through how to keep good records, when to send in information and what you need to do to process your payroll.
Business support Teams offer help in a variety of methods including local workshops designed specifically for new and small employers. They are run for small groups for people who are in the same situation as you and are often free. Specially trained Business Advisors will work with you through practical examples and help you to understand what you need to know.
Kate Hendry (Business Advisor)
Business Support Team
Cotton House
7 Cochrane Street
Glasgow
G1 1GY
Phone: 0141 285 4362
Fax: 0141 285 4101
Mobile: 07979 527 014
Inland Revenue - Business Support Website
