Direct Payments

A direct payments network has been operating informally in the region for a few years, but became a formal sub-group of the commissioning network of WM-ADASS in 2022. 

The way direct payments and individual service funds are set up and operate across councils in the region, and the scale of the activity varies widely. The network is a great forum for sharing experience, good practice and sometimes frustrations, in an area of growing importance.

The Network is chaired by David Drayton Green direct payments service manager at City of Wolverhampton Council. The network is supported by WM ADASS Associate Brendan Clifford

Direct payments events 2025
Carers' conference: 15 July at the Priory Rooms, Birmingham

This year, the theme of the WM-ADASS carers’ conference was direct payments.

The conference brought together 40 people - carers, carers leads, social workers, commissioners, policy makers, and people with lived experience from across the region. 

Pictures and write ups from this event can be seen on the Carers' Network pages.

Direct Payments & CQC Assessment in the West Midlands: online workshop 24th September
Experience was shared amongst attendees on the preparation and process for CQC Assessment with specific reference to Direct Payments. Some difference in experience between councils was noted. This was perhaps to be expected given variation in local need and local strengths, assets and resources. Sharing also validated some initial self-assessments amongst those yet to have a CQC Assessment for their preparation.  
Fraud and Direct Payments: online workshop 20th October

This workshop was led by Jonathan Dodsworth, Assistant Director for Corporate Fraud at Veritau. Veritau is a not-for-profit, local government owned company that provides an external perspective and services in the areas of internal audit, counter fraud, information governance, risk management and whistleblowing.

 

 

You can view the entire recording here and access the Adult Social Care Counter Fraud Toolkit produced by CIFAS that was referenced in the presentation.