The Managing Director of home care franchise Bluebird Care has welcomed news that local authorities are on target to ensure that nearly a third of their residents in receipt of care will switch over to the Direct Payments Scheme by next April.

Paul Tarsey, Managing Director of Bluebird Care, believes that Direct Payments are popular with older and vulnerable people as they encourage independence and greater customer choice.

Under the scheme, those eligible to receive care at home can exercise their right to arrange their own care provision by using the personal budget available via Self Directed Support. This scheme aims to put people in more control of their social care, by allocating them a personal budget to cover their care needs – in a way that suits them best.

Tarsey said: “Bluebird Care welcomes the news that local authorities are going to be able to offer this to a third of their customers – it is a big step in the right direction. People will be able to exercise their right to choose the care they want.”

As well as this, after the Government’s recent spending review that saw council budgets cut by 26 per cent over the next four years, Tarsey reiterated Bluebird Care’s commitment to delivering high-quality and cost-effective care at home. He added: “There is a need for the most cost-effective and high-quality care for people and receiving care at home is a far cheaper option than going into residential care. It is also enabling people to stay in their homes for longer – maintaining their independence.”

Published: 16 November 2010

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