Lancashire Independent Living Service

Our team of Independent Living Advisers (ILA’s) 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
• Payroll

Lancashire Peer Support Group

We offer further support, as well as our ongoing LILS support.  We have a Peer Support Group which is a place where you can find information and advice from other people using direct payments.

There are:

• parents of disabled adults and children
• disabled people who employ their own personal assistants (PAs)
• and others who support family members or friends

Peer Support is available every Wednesday from 11am to 2pm.

This is an opportunity to talk to other people who use direct payments to pay for their and others’ support needs, including agency care, communication support and employing Personal Assistants.  It is your opportunity to share experiences, to ask questions, and to enhance your knowledge about the direct payments process, and how to access training and support.

To find out more:

• Ring the office 01772 558 863 option 1 and request peer support.
• or text the LILS mobile number 07713 307405
• or email me at lils@disability-equality.org.uk and title the subject line “PEER SUPPORT REQUEST”

We hold regular online meetings, every two months, and have contributions from guest speakers.

Topics include:

• Recruitment advice
• Disability Positive payroll
• Employer support
• Advice and support
• Training opportunities
• Direct Payments in Lancashire

Register in advance for these meetings:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwvc-6rpjMtHdHGZjLqEiuNrD1aeQj_UF3Z

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Disability Positive Learning Service

Get access to FREE learning and development opportunities with Disability Positive:

• If you employ a Personal Assistant (PA)
• If you are a PA and want to update your skills

The learning service offers free, independent and personalised learning and development and training to help you get the most from your care or support.

You can choose from face-to-face training workshops, online courses and training in your own home, to meet your needs.

Training is for you if you:

• Employ a Personal Assistant (PA)
• Are a Personal Assistant and want to update your skills
• Are interested in becoming a Personal Assistant
• Are informal carer supporting a disabled person

For more information:

• https://disabilitypositive.org/service/learning-service/
• Email learning@disabilitypositive.org to request a registration form.
• Telephone 01606 331 853

Individual Employer 2024 Funding

As an individual employer you can apply for the individual employer funding to train yourself and your personal assistants (PAs).

This funding can be used to cover training costs to develop your skills as an employer, direct costs of completing training/qualifications, hiring replacement support whilst your usual PA is attending training courses and travel.

Applicable to people who employ their own care and support using an adult social care direct payment (personal budget) or using your own money (‘self-funder’).

https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Funding/Individual-Employer-Funding/Individual-Employer-Funding.aspx#msdynttrid=yIA4en-05vxeuBrRR4ztQq8ZWrC_aXxa0FMHEflYk54

Payroll support

We provide a comprehensive payroll service to people throughout Lancashire taking a Direct Payment to 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
• Calculating maternity pay
• Calculating workplace pensions
• Providing P60s and P45s
• Sending all the necessary paperwork to HMRC