Direct Payment and Employment Resources
Resources
Direct Payment and Employment Support Service in Oxfordshire provides direct payment and employment information and advice to people who are eligible to receive care and support from Oxfordshire County Council Social Services. Our advice is independent from the local authority.
We have compiled useful resources to help you navigate these key areas of your care and support.
Direct Payment Service
We can provide information and advice on all aspects of taking your personal budget as a Direct Payment to buy services from organisations or to employ personal assistants. We can help you to get everything set up and ready to use.
Here is a useful Direct Payment Guide and some examples of how a Direct Payment has been used. Connection Support has created an Easy Read Guide to Direct Payments.
We also have a useful Care Agency Checklist you may find helpful to have to hand when considering buying the services of a care agency.
Employment Advice and Support
If you are considering employing a personal assistant, our Support Facilitators provide both general information and advice as well as in-depth guidance to employing personal assistants. They can explain the benefits of directly employing personal assistants to provide care, help find and employ personal assistants and on-going advice with being an employer.
Our Employment Guide and Recruitment Guide provides invaluable information if you would like to employ your own personal assistant. In line with employer responsibilities under GDPR we have created a GDPR Template and Employee Consent Form for you to complete.
We have produced Guides and FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) on a number of topics, please take a look at our list of downloadable resources in the yellow box opposite. We will be regularly updating and adding to these resources.
If you have any further questions please call our Support Helpline – Tuesdays and Thursday 10am – 1pm on 01865-410307.

Resources
We hope you find these resources useful:
COVID-19 Related Information
Government Update – Using direct payments during the coronavirus outbreak: full guidance for people receiving direct payments and personal assistants
Updated government guidance – COVID-19 and using DPs – Sept 2020
Coronavirus Guidance – 1 April 2020
General Resources to Download
Care Agency Checklist
Direct Payment Users and DBS Checks
Direct Payment Guide
Direct Payment Responsibilities Checklist
Easy Read Guide to Direct Payments
Employer Contingency and Action Plan
Employment Guide
Additional Employer Q&As – April 2020
Employer Responsibilities Checklist
Employment Status Factsheet 2018 With thanks to the Chartered Institute of Taxation.
GDPR Template and Employee Consent Form
GDPR FAQs
Pension Guide
Recruitment Guide
Newsletters
Newsletter August 2020
Newsletter March 2020
Newsletter October 2018
Newsletter September 2018
Contact us
Helpline: 01865 410307. Open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am to 1pm.
Alternatively, email us at helplineoxon@connectionsupport.org.uk
To find out more about our Direct Payment and Employment Support Service, click here.
Who is the service funded by?

