Purchasing the services of a micro-enterprise with your direct payment can give you the freedom and flexibility to choose someone appropriate to meet your care and support needs.
Choosing your micro-enterprise
Micro-enterprises are very small care and support businesses. The primary benefit of purchasing services from a micro-enterprise is that you are not required to be the legal employer of the micro-enterprise, rather you purchase services from them similarly to how you would purchase services from a tradesperson.
Although direct payments allow you to have more choice in who provides your care, there is still a requirement for us to ensure that they are the most appropriate person to meet your needs. You can only purchase services from a micro enterprise which is featured in the Small Good Stuff Directory of community micro-enterprises.
Our Direct Payment Support Service, provided by Dewis Centre for Independent Living (CIL), can help you to make introductions with micro-enterprises featured on the directory if required.
If a micro-enterprise is also a family member and you wish to purchase services, there are certain conditions that must be met so before making any arrangements this must be discussed with your social worker.
Purchasing the services of a micro-enterprise
Before employing anyone, it is a good idea to think about what it is you are looking for and what sort of person you want to support you and the type of tasks you would like a micro-enterprise to carry out. It might be useful to write a list including skills and tasks you want a micro-enterprise to have to do. This list will also help you to develop a contract that is essential when purchasing services. You must always remember that the tasks you can ask the micro-enterprise to help with must meet your needs that are set out in your Care and Support Plan.
You can purchase care from more than one micro-enterprise to cover the support you have been assessed as needing. Dewis CIL will be able to advise you on this.
You must take these steps before choosing a micro-enterprise to provide your care:
- Ensure that the micro-enterprise is included on the Small Good Stuff Directory
- Ensure that the micro-enterprise has a valid Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check in place.
- Check that the micro-enterprise has valid public liability insurance in place.
- Sign a contract before any care and support is provided, which clearly states your own expectations and those of the micro-enterprise. This contract should consider information on contingency planning (the responsibility lies with the micro-enterprise to provide replacements for missed sessions), key terms, and notice periods for how to end the contract.
If you choose to purchase services from a micro-enterprise, the contract will be between yourself and the micro-enterprise. Neither Cardiff Council nor Dewis CIL will have any legal responsibilities in relation to the contract.
What can you pay the micro-enterprise?
You will be funded to pay a micro-enterprise £19.63 per hour. Some micro-enterprises may charge more than this per hour.
If you wish to use a micro-enterprise that charges more than the set rate, you will need to pay the extra costs out of your personal funds. This must be made as a separate payment to any assessed client contribution for auditing purposes.
Direct Payment Support Service
We fund Dewis CIL to provide our Direct Payment Support Service for everyone receiving direct payments from us. They are there to support you with all of this and can advise what your responsibilities are once you have purchased a micro-enterprise. If you want to purchase a micro-enterprise, they will also support you to:
- Write a description of services required.
- Make introductions to micro-enterprises.
- Interview potential micro-enterprises.
- Complete the checks required before purchasing services.
We strongly encourage everyone receiving direct payments to use Dewis CIL for most, if not all aspects of managing their direct payments.
More information
Support is available from Dewis CIL on purchasing micro-enterprises or general information on direct payments. They can be contacted by calling 02922 405060.
If you are considering employing a relative who has registered as a micro-enterprise, you should speak to your social worker before making any further arrangements
