12/05/2008: Direct Payments DVD is released

Local residents are starring in a new council produced DVD produced to explain how a new payment system lets people choose their own social care.

The Your care, Your choice DVD explains how the council's new Direct Payments scheme works and interviews residents who are already finding that the new scheme is improving their lives.

Direct Payments allows people who are eligible for care from Brent Council to receive money directly to choose their own care instead of accepting a service provided by the local authority.

The payment is put into a person's bank account and he or she is responsible for how the money is spent, for example, they can choose to pay someone to take them shopping, to the swimming pool, fishing or even to the theatre.

The money must be spent on meeting that person's care needs and cannot be used to pay for long-term residential care or a Brent Council-run service.

There are around 200 people in Brent who are already receiving Direct Payments.

To receive a free copy of the film on DVD, or to get more information about Direct Payments in Brent, contact 020 8937 1200, Minicom on 020 8937 1993, or email directpayments@brent.gov.uk.