Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)

If a Personal Budget has been agreed, you can ask for it to be paid by Direct Payment.

This is a cash payment made directly to you, or the young person.

It means you can arrange and manage the support set out in the Education, Health and Care Plan.

Direct Payments for education and social care support

If the Council agrees to a Direct Payment, you will be contacted by the Self Directed Support Team.

The team provides:

• detailed information, leaflets and fact sheets
• support with paperwork
• help to find support

You cannot use Direct Payments to:

• buy services from the Council, health authority or housing
• employ a member of your household who lives with the child
• buy long-term residential care

Direct Payments for health arrangements

To get a Direct Payment for a health arrangement, you will need a care plan which includes:

• the health needs to be met, and the outcomes to be achieved 
• the resources that the Direct Payment will be used to buy, the size of the Direct Payment, and how often it will be paid
• the name of the care co-ordinator responsible for managing the care plan
• who will be responsible for monitoring the health condition of the person receiving care
• the expected date of the first review, and how it will be carried out
• the period of notice that will apply if the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) decides to reduce the amount of the Direct Payment
• if necessary, an agreed procedure for discussing and managing risk