Implementing direct payments for people with a learning disability

The article reports on research on the variable take‐up of direct payments. Direct payments offer huge potential for people with learning disabilities, but implementation has been patchy. Care managers are crucial to getting more people on to direct payments, but many feel ill‐equipped to help people take advantage of direct payments, and also doubt their usefulness, either to their clients or to the development of services. Creative solutions, such as an active peer‐support group and using circles of support or trusts, coupled with user‐friendly systems backed up with training and managerial support, can result in greater take‐up and more success stories.