Experiences of direct payments and finding a personal assistant in Dudley

Healthwatch Dudley undertook research on experiences of direct payments and finding a personal assistant in Dudley Borough. They spoke to 14 people through a series of online events between October 2020 and January 2021, including people employing personal assistants through direct payments, self-funders and carers. 

Participants strongly valued the choice and independence that direct payments and personal assistants can provide, but many described difficulties finding suitable support and accessing reliable information. People often relied on friends, support groups and informal networks to find personal assistants and information about direct payments. Those who had employed personal assistants highlighted the importance of trust, building relationships and receiving practical support to navigate recruitment, employment responsibilities and paperwork.

A recurring concern was the lack of easily accessible information and ongoing support, particularly for self-funders. Participants reported confusion about recruiting personal assistants, employer responsibilities, training, insurance, managing budgets and understanding what direct payments could be used for. Many also wanted greater clarity about safety checks, quality standards and how personal assistants advertised through council-supported directories are assessed. 

Healthwatch Dudley concluded that people would benefit from better information, more peer support and clearer guidance on employing personal assistants. Recommendations included creating stronger support networks, improving promotion of direct payments, developing online resources and training, introducing clearer quality standards and safety checks, and providing more consistent advice for both direct payment recipients and self-funders. The report also highlighted the importance of the new Direct Payments Café as a way of reducing isolation and helping people share experiences and practical support.