Regulation 9 Information, advice and other supportI1
England and Wales
A health body must make arrangements for a patient, representative or nominee to whom direct payments are made to obtain information, advice or other support in connection with the making of direct payments.
The arrangements for information, advice or other support mentioned in paragraph (1) may include—
specifying the amount of a patient’s direct payment and how this payment is calculated;
how a patient, representative or nominee can request a review of the patient’s direct payment and care plan;
the circumstances in which a patient may no longer qualify for a direct payment;
the restrictions on how a direct payment may be spent;
the process involved in drawing up and agreeing the care plan;
provision for advocacy services, whereby a third party assists a patient, representative or nominee in relation to the terms of a care plan, or the management of any contract under which services secured by means of direct payments are provided, or otherwise;
provision for commissioning services, whereby a person assists the patient, representative or nominee in procuring services that may be secured by means of direct payments;
provision for payroll, training, sickness cover or other employment related services to assist a patient, representative or nominee where an employee provides services secured by direct payments for the patient; or
where the patient is also in receipt of a direct payment to secure relevant services for social care, information on integration of both direct payments and the arrangements between a health body and a local authority for joint working and co-operation.
If the care plan specifies a requirement for information, advice or other support, that support may be a service in respect of which direct payments may be made.