Lancs Independent Living Service

Who we are and what we do

Lancashire Independent Living Service (LILS) is a Consortium of 2 disabled people’s organizations (run and controlled by disabled people), Disability Equality North West (DENW) and Disability Positive (formerly Cheshire Centre for Independent Living (CCIL)  LILS offers support and advice to local people who are in receipt of a Direct Payment from Lancashire County Council.

INFORMATION & ADVICE

Our team of Independent Living Advisors are on hand to provide Direct Payment information, support and advice.  We aim to provide a friendly and professional service that is independent and impartial.  Promoting through knowledge and support, service user empowerment and independence in the management of a Direct Payment.

We advise users on the options open to them and support them through to independence in the set up and ongoing management of their budget, to enable disabled people to use their budget to meet their assessed care needs.

Providing support and advice on issues relating to the engagement of personal assistants including recruitment advertising, job descriptions and person specifications, interviewing, contracts of employment, employer’s liability insurance and payroll.

Contact details: Information, Advice & Support: 01772 558863 (option 1) or by email at: lils@disability-equality.org.uk.

PAYROLL SUPPORT

We provide a comprehensive payroll service to people throughout Lancashire taking a Direct Payment to employ their own support staff. Our Payroll Service is for disabled people who employ their own support staff. You will be allocated a named person (a Payroll Clerk) who will manage your payroll account. Your Payroll Clerk will process payslips on a monthly or four weekly basis and make sure that tax and national insurance is calculated correctly. Payroll will also make sure that you are meeting your statutory employer responsibilities such as calculating sick pay, maternity pay, workplace pensions, providing P60s and P45s and sending all the necessary paperwork to HMRC.

Contact details: 01606 331853 Payroll@disabilitypositive.org

COVID SUPPORT

For general information on CoronaVirus please goto https://disabilitypositive.org/coronavirus-covid-19/

Please note this information is general, if you require information more specific to Lancashire please contact us direct.

Key Questions, Answered

What is a Direct Payment?

Direct payments allow you to receive cash payments from your local authority instead of the local authority arranging the care for you. This can give you much more flexibility and greater choice and control of your support package.

Who can get a Direct Payment?

You may be able to get a direct payment if you have been assessed by Social Services as needing care and support services. Adults aged 18 or over, or the parents of a child with disabilities who is under 18 years old may be eligible. If you have been assessed as needing a personal budget, you may be offered a direct payment.

How do I get a Direct Payment?

To receive direct payments, you first need to ask your local authority to assess your care needs. After the assessment, if you are eligible, you’ll get a care/support plan. This is a written document which detail what needs you have. Your social care worker should discuss the Direct Payments option with you when they assess your care needs.

What happens next?

Your social care worker will refer you in to your local Direct Payment support service, here in Lancashire it will be LILS. Lancashire Independent Living Service will advise you on the options available to you and support you through the whole process. You can have as much or as little support as you need.

Looking for work as a Personal Assistant/Carer?

Lancashire Independent Living Service supports disabled people across Lancashire, to recruit their own support staff.

There are a variety of vacancies available throughout Lancashire with an immediate start. Working hours range from 2-35 hours weekly.

The benefits include 5.6 weeks annual leave, competitive rates of pay, pension scheme plus training opportunities.

To view the current vacancies, please click the below link:

https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search?q=LILS%2F&w

Meet The Team

Melanie Close-CEO Disability Equality NW

Lynne Turnbull-CEO Disability Positive

Jeanne Geirnaert-Service Manager-LILS

Karen Fortier-Independent Living Adviser-LILS

Fay Harrison- Independent Living Adviser-LILS

Michelle Hodgkinson-Independent Living Adviser-LILS

Hayley McCooke-Independent Living Adviser-LILS

Emma Myles-Administrator-LILS

Sally Whitton-Administrator-LILS

Sandeep Dhanoya-Independent Living Adviser

Sophie Eccles-Independent Living Adviser

Charlotte Marshall-Independent Living Advisor-LILS