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Welfare Reform Bill

I support the noble Baroness, Lady Thomas, in this amendment. I absolutely agree with her that direct payments support services need to be in place to ensure the effective implementation of right to control. I declare an interest as vice-chair of Hammersmith and Fulham Action on Disability, which provides such services. HAFAD’s experience is that support services take the mystery out of direct payments for disabled people. Imagine someone who has never enjoyed real choice and control in their lives—someone who has been tied up in knots and disempowered by the system. How is he to feel confident in taking on budget management and the role of employer without peer support and guidance? We should not underestimate the damage to people’s confidence wreaked by the disabling systems we subject them to. Unless this is taken on board, we will unnecessarily restrict disabled people’s options to take control. Department of Health direct payments guidance states that the provision of a support service is key to the successful implementation of direct payments and that, ""support provided through voluntary/recipient-run organisations has been shown to be particularly effective and valued by recipients"." Moreover, there is a clear correlation between direct payment support services controlled and run by disabled people and successful implementation of direct payments. Seven out of 10 of the top-performing local authorities on direct payments contract a user-led support service to ensure effective implementation of direct payments for healthcare. Specific provision for support services has been included in the Health Bill. Surely, it would be strange if Ministers were to resist calls for similar provision in Part 2.