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2004 No. 1748 (W.185)

SOCIAL SERVICES, WALES

The Community Care, Services for Carers and Children's Services (Direct Payments) (Wales) Regulations 2004

  Made 8 July 2004 
  Coming into force 1 November 2004 

The National Assembly for Wales, in exercise of powers conferred by sections 57(1), (3), (6) and (7) and 64(6) and (8) of the Health and Social Care Act 2001[1] and sections 17A(1), (3) and (4) and 104(4) of the Children Act 1989[2] hereby makes the following Regulations:

Citation, commencement and application
     1. These Regulations  - 

Interpretation
    
2.  - (1) In these Regulations  - 

    (2) In these Regulations - 

Prescribed descriptions of persons  -  community care services and services for carers
     3.  - (1) For the purposes of section 57(1) of the 2001 Act, a person falling with section 57(2) of that Act[9] is of a prescribed description if - 

    (2) The descriptions are  - 

Prescribed descriptions of persons  -  children's services
     4. For the purposes of section 17A(1) of the 1989 Act, a person falling within section 17A(2) of that Act[11] is of a prescribed description if  - 

Duty to make direct payments
     5.  - (1) If the conditions in paragraph (3) are satisfied, a responsible authority must make in respect of  - 

such payments ("direct payments") as are determined in accordance with regulation 6 in respect of his or her securing the provision of a relevant service.

    (2) In these Regulations a relevant service means  - 

    (3) The conditions are that  - 

Amount and payment of direct payments
     6.  - (1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), a direct payment shall be made as a gross payment[14] unless the responsible authority decide it shall be made as a net payment[15].

    (2) For the purpose of making the payment referred to in paragraph (1), the responsible authority shall determine, having regard to the prescribed person's means, what amount or amounts (if any) it is reasonably practicable for him or her to pay towards securing the provision of the relevant service (whether by way of reimbursement as mentioned in section 57(4) of the 2001 Act or by way of a contribution as mentioned in section 57(5) of that Act)[16].

    (3) Where the relevant service is one which, apart from these Regulations, would be provided under section 117 of the 1983 Act (after-care)  - 

    (4) Where a direct payment is made to a person falling within section 17A(5) of the 1989 Act[17]  - 

    (5) A direct payment may be paid to  - 

Conditions in respect of direct payments
     7.  - (1) A direct payment shall be subject to the condition that the service in respect of which it is made shall not be secured from a person mentioned in paragraph (2) unless  - 

    (2) The persons are  - 

    (3) Paragraph (2)(c)(ii) and (iii) do not apply in the case of a person mentioned in section 17A(2)(c) of the 1989 Act[20].

    (4) A responsible authority may make a direct payment subject to such other conditions (if any) as they think fit.

    (5) The conditions referred to in paragraph (4) may, in particular, require that the payee  - 

Maximum periods of residential accommodation which may be secured by means of a direct payment
     8.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (2), a direct payment may not be made in respect of a prescribed person who falls within regulation 3(1) for the provision to him or her of residential accommodation for a period in excess of 4 weeks in any period of 12 months.

    (2) In calculating the period of 4 weeks mentioned in paragraph (1), in any 12 month period - 

    (3) A direct payment may not be made in respect of a prescribed person who falls within regulation 4 for the provision of residential accommodation  - 

Displaced functions and obligations of the responsible authority
    
9.  - (1) Except as provided by paragraph (2), the fact that a responsible authority makes a direct payment shall not affect their functions with respect to the provision under the relevant enactment of the service to which the payment relates.

    (2) Where a responsible authority makes a direct payment, they shall not be under any obligation with respect to the provision under the relevant enactment of the service to which the payment relates as long as they are satisfied that the need which calls for the provision of the service will be met by the payee's own arrangements.

    (3) In paragraphs (1) and (2), references to the relevant enactment are, in relation to the provision of a service, to the enactment under which the service would fall to be provided apart from these Regulations.

Repayment of direct payments
    
10.  - (1) Where a responsible authority which has made a direct payment is satisfied, in relation to the whole or any part of the payment  - 

they may require the payment or, as the case may be, the part of the payment to be repaid.

    (2) Any sum falling to be repaid by virtue of paragraph (1) shall be recoverable as a debt due to the authority.

Termination of direct payments
    
11.  - (1) Subject to paragraph (3), a responsible authority shall stop making direct payments to a person if  - 

    (2) A responsible authority may stop making direct payments to a prescribed person if any condition imposed by or under regulation 7 or referred to in section 57(4)(b) of the 2001 Act[21] is not complied with.

    (3) Where the person in respect of whom direct payments are made ceases to be capable of managing such payments, a responsible authority may nevertheless continue to make such payments if  - 

Consequential amendments
     12. The amendments which were made by regulation 11 of the 2003 Regulations and which are contained in Schedule 2 to these Regulations shall also apply in Wales.

Revocation
    
13.  - (1) The Community Care (Direct Payments) Regulations 1997[22], in so far as they were not revoked by the 2003 Regulations, and the Community Care (Direct Payments) Amendment (Wales) Regulations 2000[23] are hereby revoked.

    (2) Regulations 3 and 4 of the Carers (Services) and Direct Payments (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2001[24] are hereby revoked.

    (3) The Disabled Children (Direct Payments) (Wales) Regulations 2001[25] are hereby revoked.



Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998[26]


D. Elis-Thomas
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly

8 July 2004



SCHEDULE 1
Regulations 3(1) and 4


PERSONS TO WHOM DIRECT PAYMENTS MAY NOT BE MADE


This Schedule applies to a person  - 



SCHEDULE 2
Regulation 12


CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS


     1. In the enactments specified in column 1 of the following table, in the provisions specified in column 2 of that table, after "Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996", insert "or under regulations made under section 57 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (direct payments)"  - 

     1. Title of enactment

     2. Provisions to be amended

Civil Legal Aid (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1989[35] Schedule 2, paragraph 6(2)

Schedule 3, paragraph 8(b)

Legal Advice and Assistance Regulations 1989[36] Schedule 2, paragraph 9A(2)
Legal Aid in Criminal and Care Proceedings (General) Regulations 1989[37] Schedule 3, paragraph 6(2)
Community Legal Service (Financial) Regulations 2000[38] Regulations 19(b) and 33(b)
Criminal Defence Service (General) (No 2) Regulations 2001[39] Schedule 1, paragraph 8(1)(d)

     2. In the enactments specified in column 1 of the following table, in the provisions specified in column 2 of that Schedule, after "Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968", insert "or under regulations made under section 57 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (direct payments)"  - 

     1. Title of enactment

     2. Provisions to be amended

Income Support (General) Regulations 1987[40] Schedule 9, paragraph 58
Housing Benefit (General) Regulations 1987[41] Schedule 4, paragraph 67
Family Credit (General) Regulations 1987[42] Schedule 2, paragraph 57
Disability Working Allowance (General) Regulations 1991[43] Schedule 3, paragraph 55
Council Tax Benefit (General) Regulations 1992[44] Schedule 4, paragraph 62
Child Support (Maintenance Assessments and Special Cases)Regulations 1992[45] Schedule 2, paragraph 48C
Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations 1996[46] Schedule 7, paragraph 56
Housing Renewal Grants Regulations 1996[47] Schedule 3, paragraph 59
Relocation Grants (Form of Application) Regulations 1997[48] Schedule, paragraph 43A

     3. In regulation 19 of the Tax Credits (Definition and Calculation of Income) Regulations 2002[
49] in entry 14 in table 6, after "Health and Personal Social Services (Direct Payments) (Northern Ireland) Order", add "or regulations made under section 57 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 (direct payments).".



EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)


These Regulations require Welsh local authorities to make direct payments to certain persons in order that they may themselves secure the provision of certain social services. The services in question are listed in regulation 5(2).

Regulation 3 prescribes certain persons for the purposes of the Regulations, in so far as they apply to persons whose needs a local authority have decided call for the provision of community care services or in respect of whom a local authority has decided to provide a carer's service. A person is prescribed under regulation 3 if he or she appears to the local authority to be capable of managing direct payments and falls within any of the descriptions in regulation 3(2), unless he or she is a person to whom Schedule 1 to these Regulations applies.

Regulation 4 prescribes certain persons for the purposes of the Regulations, in so far as they apply to services for children in need and their families. Regulation 4 should be read in conjunction with s.17A(2) of the Children Act 1989. Under s.17A(2) of the 1989 Act direct payments may only be made to persons of the following descriptions and in cases where a local authority has decided that the needs of the child concerned call for the provision of a service under section 17 of the 1989 Act: (i) a person with parental responsibility for a disabled child; (ii) a disabled person with parental responsibility for a child; (iii) a disabled child aged 16 or 17. Regulation 4 sets out which of these persons are prescribed for the purposes of the Regulations. A person is prescribed under regulation 4 if he or she appears to a local authority to be capable of managing a direct payment and is not a person to whom Schedule 1 to these Regulations applies.

Regulation 5 confers duties upon local authorities in Wales to make direct payments to prescribed persons. It should be read in conjunction with section 57(1) of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 and s.17A(1) of the Children Act 1989. Under those provisions, direct payments may not be made to a person without his or her consent.

From 1 November 2004, under regulation 5 a local authority must, if the conditions in regulation 5(3) are met, make direct payments to: (i) persons prescribed under regulation 3 to whom section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 applies (section 29 applies to adults who are, for example, substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or suffering from mental disorder); (ii) persons prescribed under regulation 3 for whom the local authority have decided to provide services under section 2 of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 (services for carers); and (iii) persons prescribed under regulation 4. And from 1 March 2005 a local authority must make direct payments to other persons prescribed under regulation 3 who are aged over 65 and in respect of whom the local authority has decided to provide community care services.

Regulation 6 provides that a direct payment shall be made either as either a gross payment, or net of such amount determined by the authority as being due by the person in respect of the service. It also provides that in certain cases only gross payments may be made. Regulation 6 further provides that a payment may be made to the prescribed person or to such other person nominated by that person.

Regulation 7 specifies conditions upon which direct payments may or shall be made. In particular, it prohibits a direct payment from being used to secure a service from the persons listed in regulation 7(2), except in the circumstances specified in regulation 7(1).

Regulation 8 specifies the maximum periods of residential accommodation that may be secured by means of a direct payment.

Regulation 9 provides that where an authority makes a direct payment it does not lose its responsibilities towards the prescribed person under the enactment under which the authority has decided the person is to receive services. However, where a local authority is satisfied that the needs of the prescribed person will be met by arrangements made by the recipient of the direct payment, it shall not be under any obligation with respect to the provision of the services secured by the direct payment.

Regulation 10 provides for the circumstances in which an authority may require a direct payment to be repaid.

Regulation 11 provides for the circumstances in which an authority shall, or may, terminate direct payments.

Regulation 12 and Schedule 2 amend various Regulations.

Regulation 13 revokes various Regulations.

Schedule 1 specifies persons to whom direct payments may not be made under these Regulations.


Notes:

[1] 2001 c.15. Section 66 of the 2001 Act defines "regulations" as "regulations made by the relevant authority", and "relevant authority" as the National Assembly for Wales in relation to Wales (and the Secretary of State in relation to England). See section 57(8) of the 2001 Act for the definition of "prescribed".back

[2] 1989 c.41. Section 17A of the 1989 Act was substituted by section 58 of the 2001 Act. The power to make regulations under section 17A is conferred upon the Secretary of State. By virtue of section 68(1) of the 2001 Act, the reference to the 1989 Act in the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672) shall be treated as a reference to that Act as amended by the 2001 Act. Accordingly, the powers of the Secretary of State under section 17A of the 1989 Act so far as exercisable in relation to Wales are exercisable by the Assembly: see Article 2(a) of, and the entry in respect of the 1989 Act in Schedule 1 to, the 1999 Order. See section 17A(6) of the 1989 Act for the definition of "prescribed".back

[3] 1983 c.60.back

[4] 1984 c.36.back

[5] 1995 c.46.back

[6] 2000 c.6.back

[7] S.I. 2003/762.back

[8] Under section 57(2) of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 and section 17A(2) of the Children Act 1989, the "responsible authority" in relation to a prescribed person is the local authority that has decided: (i) that his or her needs call for the provision by them of a particular community care service; (ii) to provide him or her with services by virtue of section 2(1) of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000; or (iii) that the needs of a disabled child call for the provision of services to the prescribed person under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.back

[9] A person falls within section 57(2) of the 2001 Act if the responsible authority has decided: (i) that his or her needs call for the provision by them of a particular community care service; or (ii) to provide him or her with a particular service by virtue of section 2(1) of the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000.back

[10] 1948 c. 47. Section 29 applies to "persons aged eighteen or over who are blind, deaf or dumb or who suffer from mental disorder of any description, and other persons aged eighteen or over who are substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury, or congenital deformity or such other disabilities as may be prescribed…".back

[11] A person falls within section 17A(2) of the 1989 Act if he or she is: (a) a person with parental responsibility for a disabled child; (b) a disabled person with parental responsibility for a child; or (c) a disabled child aged 16 or 17;back

[12] 1990 c.19.back

[13] 2000 c.16.back

[14] See section 57(4) of the 2001 Act for the definition of "gross payments".back

[15] See section 57(5) of the 2001 Act for the definition of "net payments".back

[16] Section 17A(3) of the 1989 Act applies sections 57(3) to (5) and (7) of the 2001 Act to regulations made under section 17A of the 1989 Act.back

[17] A person falls within section 17A(5) if he or she has parental responsibility for a disabled child aged 16 or 17 or is a disabled person with parental responsibility for a child of that age or is in receipt of income support, working families tax credit or disabled person's tax credit.back

[18] The rate mentioned in section 57(4)(a) is such rate as the authority estimate to be equivalent to the reasonable cost of securing the provision of the service concerned.back

[19] Section 57(4)(b) permits an authority to make gross direct payments subject to the condition that the payee pays to the authority, by way of reimbursement, an amount or amounts determined under the regulations.back

[20] A disabled child aged 16 or 17 is the person mentioned in section 17A(2)(c).back

[21] Section 57(4)(b) of the 2001 Act permits the responsible authority to make a gross direct payment subject to the condition that the payee pays to it, by way of reimbursement, an amount or amounts determined under regulations. Section 17A(3) of the 1989 Act applies section 57(4)(b) to direct payments under that Act.back

[22] S.I. 1997/734.back

[23] S.I. 2000/1868 (W.127).back

[24] S.I. 2001/2186 (W.150).back

[25] S.I. 2001/2192 (W.154).back

[26] 1998 c.38.back

[27] 1991 c.53.back

[28] Section 25A was inserted by section 1(1) of the Mental Health (Patients in the Community) Act 1995 (c.52) ("the 1995 Act").back

[29] 1991 c.25.back

[30] Section 35A was inserted by section 4 of the 1995 Act.back

[31] 2000 asp 4.back

[32] Section 234B was inserted by section 90 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (c.37).back

[33] 1989 c.45.back

[34] 1993 c.9.back

[35] S.I. 1989/338; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1993/778, 1996/2309, 1997/753; see also S.I. 2000/774, article 5.back

[36] S.I. 1989/340; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1993/790 and 1997/751; see also S.I. 2000/774 article 5 and S.I. 2001/916, article 4 and Schedule 2.back

[37] S.I. 1989/344; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1993/789 and 1997/752; see also S.I. 2000/774 article 5 and S.I. 2001/916, article 4 and Schedule 2.back

[38] S.I. 2000/516.back

[39] S.I. 2001/1437.back

[40] S.I. 1987/1967; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1997/65.back

[41] S.I. 1987/1971; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1997/2863.back

[42] S.I. 1987/1973; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1997/65.back

[43] S.I. 1991/2887; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1997/65.back

[44] S.I. 1992/1814; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1997/65.back

[45] S.I. 1992/1815; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1996/3196. S.I. 1992/1815 was revoked with savings by S.I. 2001/155.back

[46] S.I. 1996/207; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1997/65.back

[47] S.I. 1996/2890; relevant amending regulations are S.I. 1998/808.back

[48] S.I. 1997/2847.back

[49] S.I. 2002/2006.back



Cymraeg (Welsh)



ISBN 0 11090993 3


  © Crown copyright 2004

Prepared 26 July 2004


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