AQW 48654/11-16

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 09/09/2015
Answered On Date: 03/11/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how his Department ensures (i) the effective administration of Direct Payments by Health and Social Care Trusts; and (ii) that Health and Social Care Trusts keep the administration of payments under review.

Answer:

My Department issued the following overarching guidance to Health and Social Care (HSC) Board and Trusts in order to assist the HSC in implementation and the administration of an effective direct payment scheme. This guidance can be accessed via the attached link:

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/direct_payments_legislation_and_guidance_for_boards_and_trusts.pdf.

In addition, my Department issued further guidance on accounting and monitoring requirements for the administration of Direct Payments. This provides both the HSC and the Direct Payment recipient with detailed direction on their respective financial responsibilities, see link attached http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/eccu3-09.pdf.