posted 6th October 2026
If a council assessment has told you that you (or the person you care for) are eligible for social care support, you may have been offered something called a Direct Payment - and then left wondering what that actually means in practice. It's a good option for a lot of families, but it isn't always explained clearly. Here's the plain-English version, based on Warwickshire County Council's own guidance.
What a Direct Payment actually is
Instead of the council arranging and paying for your care directly, a Direct Payment gives you the money for your agreed care, your personal budget, so you can arrange it yourself. It's paid either onto a prepaid card for ongoing support, or into a bank account for one-off costs. The idea is flexibility and choice: you decide who provides your care and how, rather than the council choosing for you.
Who can get one
You may be eligible if you've had a needs assessment and been found eligible for social care, and you're:
- A disabled adult (16+)
- A parent or guardian arranging services for a disabled child
- An unpaid carer (for support that meets your own assessed needs)
- A disabled parent needing support with parenting
- Someone acting on behalf of a person who lacks the mental capacity to manage it themselves
(A small number of people are excluded - mainly those subject to certain community orders involving mandatory drug or alcohol treatment.)
How the amount is worked out
The amount you receive is based directly on the personal budget agreed during your care needs assessment. It isn't a fixed sum, it's calculated around what your (or your family member's) actual assessed needs are.
How to get started
Once you're approved, you'll sign a Direct Payment Agreement setting out the terms. For ongoing care, funds are loaded onto a prepaid card four weeks in advance; one-off payments go through a Bank Mandate Form. In Warwickshire, the council's Direct Payments Support Team can talk you through it directly on 01926 413908 - it's worth calling them with any specific questions, since the exact process can be updated from time to time.
Using a Direct Payment with a home care agency
You don't have to become an employer to use a Direct Payment - most families choose to pay a care provider instead, in which case the provider (not you) is responsible for managing and paying its own staff. A few practical points from the council's own guidance:
- Warwickshire funds care up to an agreed rate. If a care provider charges more, you cover the difference yourself ("topping up"); if less, your funding may be reduced to match.
- You should get a written contract from the care provider, and itemised invoices you can check against hours actually worked.
- Before choosing a care provider, it's worth confirming: are they CQC registered? Do all staff have a DBS check? Do they hold proper insurance? Do they run risk assessments and have a clear complaints process? A reputable care provider should be able to answer all of this without hesitation.
Why this matters when you're choosing who to use
Not every home care provider makes this easy to check. It's worth asking directly, in writing, before you commit a Direct Payment to anyone. For what it's worth: Fernsby Brookes is CQC-rated "Good" across all five inspection categories, fully insured, and every carer is DBS-checked and trained before working alone with a client - and we accept both private and Direct Payment clients across Warwickshire.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to manage the money myself?
Not necessarily - someone can be authorised to manage a Direct Payment on your behalf if you'd struggle to do it yourself, including a family member in some circumstances.
What if the agency I want costs more than my personal budget covers?
You can still use them, but you'll need to pay the difference (the "top-up") yourself, on top of your Direct Payment.
Can I stop using Direct Payments if it's not working for me?
Yes - you can ask the council to go back to arranging your care directly at any point; it isn't a one-way decision.
Fernsby Brookes provides home care and live-in care across Warwickshire, including Rugby, Coventry, Leamington Spa and Nuneaton, and accepts private and local authority Direct Payment clients. If you'd like to talk through whether we're a good fit for your Direct Payment, get in touch - we're happy to answer the practical questions above directly.
Sources: Warwickshire County Council - Direct Payments basics ยท Warwickshire County Council - Using agencies with Direct Payments
This article explains the general process as published by Warwickshire County Council at the time of writing. Rules, rates and forms can change - always confirm current details with the council's Direct Payments Support Team (01926 413908) before making decisions.
