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Welcome to East Sussex DPSS provided by Purple

Purple DPSS launches in East Sussex supporting Service Users by offering a comprehensive managed accounts service to Direct Payment holders.

Purple has a long history of providing Direct Payment and Personal Health Budget support services across the UK and is delighted to be working with East Sussex Council in delivering managed account services.

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Direct payments are when the money allocated for your support is paid directly to you, so that you can pay for the support you choose to meet your needs. It is the main way to receive all or part of a personal budget if you want direct control of the money available to support you.

If you qualify for support from Adult Social Care in East Sussex, you can choose to buy this support yourself by having the money allocated for your support paid into a direct payment account. This way, you can organize and buy the care and support that you need, instead of having Adult Social Care organize and provide services for you.

This gives you more choice and control over how your needs are met. You choose who will help you, and when and how they do. You can use your budget flexibly, using support when you need it, not always in the same fixed pattern.

You can get direct payments if you are:

A client of Adult Social Care (anyone 18 or over)
A carer of an adult
A disabled child

There are a few exceptions to this, but we will explain in more detail if necessary.

To be offered direct payments, you need a social care needs assessment. This assessment looks at your needs and determines whether you qualify for help from us.

If you do qualify, East Sussex council will work out the likely cost of your care and support and how much we can give you towards it.

You can choose to take some or all the money allocated to you for your support as a direct payment.

What you choose will be written in a document called a support plan. This plan shows how you have chosen to meet your eligible care and support needs and achieve the things that you want to do.

East Sussex Council will look at your total income and your savings (called a ‘financial assessment’) to work out the amount you need to pay towards the cost of your support. You can find out more about this in the leaflet: What You Will Need to Pay Towards the Cost of Your Care and Support.

If the financial assessment shows that you need to contribute to the cost of your care, you will need to pay this towards your direct payment straight away. You can pay this weekly or four-weekly.

It is very important to pay your contribution into your chosen direct payment account, so there is enough money for you to pay for services.

Direct payments must be used to meet your eligible care and support needs and the outcomes in your support plan. If at any time you want to change how you meet your needs, you can always contact your social care worker to discuss this.

Most people spend their direct payments on employing a personal assistant or paying companies to provide home care support, but there are many ways you can use them.

Managing your Direct Payments with Purple DPSS

Purple Direct Payment Support Service offers the following options:

Purple Managed Account (Payroll & Invoicing): Purple manages funds, processes invoices, and makes payments to providers; DP holder handles contracts and issue resolution.
Purple Managed Account (Payroll Only): Purple manages funds and payroll, making payments based on PA timesheets; DP holder handles contracts and issue resolution.

Contact our team

For information about applying for Direct Payments (Adults):

Complete a Social Care needs assessment online

Call: 0345 60 80 191

Text: 07537 418236

Email: hscc@eastsussex.gov.uk

Out of hours emergencies

Call: 0345 60 80 191 and select option 2 to connect to the Adult Social Care Emergency Duty Service.

Learn about contacting with BSL

For PA's : East Sussex Micro Provider Drop in events

Are you a Personal Assistant delivering support in East Sussex and looking for some advice on how to grow your business? Come along to the East Sussex Micro Provider events being held during October.

• Eastbourne: Tuesday 15th October 2024 from 10:00am to 2:00pm Linden Court, 3, Birch Road, Eastbourne, BN23 6PE (Click here to book a ticket)

• Bexhill: Wednesday 16th October 2024 from 10:00am to 2:00pm Beeching Park Day Centre, Beeching Road Industrial Estate, Bexhill, TN39 3LG (please note this postcode does not show the exact location). (Click here to book a ticket)

Click here to learn more about these events for Personal Assistants (PA's)

East Sussex Direct Payments toolkit

Click here for the East Sussex Pay Day Timesheet Schedule

Click here for the East Sussex 4 Weekly Timesheet