Using Option 1 to pay a care provider

Budgets
1

Hi,

I’m wondering if anyone has any experience that they can share about using Option 1 to pay a care provider/company/agency. For example, do any local authorities impose any restrictions on the providers that you can use? My understanding is that you should be able to choose any provider, as long as they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. Is this correct?

Thanks

2

Hi Justin,
Many thanks for the post. This is a really good question.

One thing that might affect how a Local Authority calculates the relevant amount for an SDS budget, for the use of care agencies for a ‘care at home’ service, is whether they operate a ‘preferred provider list’.

This might involve care agencies signing up to this list, meeting whatever criteria the Local Authority sets for being on such a list, which is likely to include the way in which people are directed to their services, as well as the hourly rate that the Local Authority will pay. This approach might help Local Authorities to plan for the services they need in their area, as well as manage the financial cost.

Whilst this might sound ok on the face of it, one effect can be for the Local Authority to say that they will only pay up to the agreed hourly rate that they have with preferred providers, as this is the cost of securing this type of support for someone.

If people receiving a direct payment under Option 1 identify a service from a provider that costs more that this agreed cost, the Local Authority might only pay the preferred provider rate. This is where people might need to highlight why they would choose another provider and why it is important for the Local Authority to pay them a higher rate, in terms of meeting their identified needs and Personal Outcomes.

The issue of choice that you highlight is very important, as this is one of the underlying statutory principles of SDS. In this type of example, how does the Local Authority support people to exercise choice?

In one way it is easier to highlight your need for additional funding where you have a need for a specific care at home provider, or a provider with specific knowledge and experience. This might not only support people to exercise choice, but enable them to access the specific support they require.

I’m not sure that answers your question as other people might have other experiences around this. I’ll copy a few experienced people in just in case: @joanne @Becs @IainMcG @

If there’s anything else that I can do just let me know.

Many thanks,

Mark