Hi Deanery

We at Able will try and give you the best advice possible but I think we probably need a bit more information about your case.

You can contact me at editor@ablemagazine.co.uk (as can anyone on the forums) and we'll try and point you in the right direction.

Of course this shouldn't preclude anyone else on the boards who has experience to share.

Hi Deanery,

I manage Herefordshire Centre of Independent Living. We provide support to people using DP's. With sound support they are a really good way of meeting your support needs, as you choose when, by whom and how your support needs are met. Most people prefer to employ their own support workers for these reasons, however you can use an agency if you prefer and pay with your DP.

Local authorities vary in how they implement DP's. It is unusual for a LA not to have a local support scheme, and you can check this by going onto the NCIL website ncil.org.uk. However it is not at all unusual for LA staff to have limited knowledge of how DP's work in practice. Are you the first person to use DP's - can they put you in touch with some who uses them locally to ask about what kind of support you can expect?

To give you an idea we support with:
* understanding the process and admin requirements
* drafting an advert, job description, contract of employment
* support to interview
* Support post employment (induction, training, managing your staff)

We also provide payroll and bookkeeping support.

This may seem a lot to think about but our experience is that once the initial set up work has been done people much prefer DP's to any other form of support. We have a VERY low drop out rate.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Marion