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# Social workers have poor understanding of Direct Payments, official report says
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/social-workers-have-poor-understanding-of-direct-payments-official-report-says/
- Published: 2019-01-22T19:06:06.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-14T10:04:35.000Z
- Author: Manuel Del Solar Fernandez
- Tags: Health, News, Birmingham City Council, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

A [study](https://birmingham.cmis.uk.com/Birmingham/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=PDQOPVSrmzPgCAdKe2K5cweZKfRCmVjflaKWw7RbGDFQWIb8rG065A%3d%3d&rUzwRPf%2bZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3d%3d=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2fLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3d%3d&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3d%3d=hFflUdN3100%3d&kCx1AnS9%2fpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3d%3d=hFflUdN3100%3d&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2bAJvYtyA%3d%3d=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&FgPlIEJYlotS%2bYGoBi5olA%3d%3d=NHdURQburHA%3d&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3d&ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) on the payments for people assessed as needing help to pay for their own care and support services has pointed out the **issues** of the project.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/63/9b/639bf577-7ed7-44fe-8d64-ac66eaeee42e/content/images/2026/08/img_20190122_141428.jpg)

Known as '[Direct Payments](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/direct-payments?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)', the local payments were created by giving to users a personal budget to spend according to their own choosing preferences.

At the moment of writing **28.5%** of Birmingham eligible citizens are using them. It is expected to increase to **30%** by April 2019.

One of the main problems that the report identifies is the **lack of knowledge** of Direct Payments and the services it can offer **by social workers.**

Two respondents to the survey said:

> "At the moment it seems I know more about Direct Payments than some social workers."  
>  
>  

> "Because social workers have little knowledge of what’s out there to use your Direct Payments on they cannot advise you."

In addition, the report says that there is a **lack of support** from social workers.

> "Social workers didn't offer any help. I was given my budget, and it was up to me to sort out everything."

**Andy Cave**, CEO of [Healthwatch Birmingham](https://healthwatchbirmingham.co.uk/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk), presented the report to the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee in a [meeting](https://birmingham.cmis.uk.com/birmingham/Meetings/tabid/70/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/397/Meeting/10449/Committee/332/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) this morning.

Healthwatch Birmingham will monitor the changes that **Birmingham City Council** will do to improve the situation.

A final **Impact Report** will be published throughout this year.