Help guide to using a micro-provider
If you pay for your own care, or receive a Direct Payment from Denbighshire County Council, you can choose to pay a micro-provider to support you.
What is a micro-provider?
A micro-provider is a small local business, run by local people, who offer services to support:
- Older people.
- People with a disability.
- People who want to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
- Young people (aged 14-18).
To help them live their best lives.
A micro-provider gives you more choice about your care and support as they can offer something different to traditional support services.
They can offer a wide variety of support to help meet your needs:
Support at home: personal care, cooking, cleaning, shopping, running errands, companionship
Support you getting out and about in your community: activities, hobbies, therapies, learning new skills, day services, peer support.
The services offered by micro-providers aim to help people live in their own homes for longer, whilst improving their lives.
Micro-providers are flexible and personalised to help fit around what you want and need.
Benefits of using a micro-provider
- You have more choice and control over your own care and support.
- There is a variety of services to choose from.
- Flexible services.
- Run by local people within your community.
- No employment responsibilities.
- Competitive rates.
What is a Direct Payment?
A Direct Payment is when we give a payment directly to you so that you can then choose who you want to provide your care and support to help you meet your goals.
You arrange this care and support yourself, or with the support of a family member or friend, so you have complete control over who helps you.
We will provide you with a prepaid card to enable you to pay for your services yourself.
If you want more information on prepaid cards or Direct Payments contact the Direct Payments team at direct.payments@denbighshire.gov.uk or telephone Single Point of Access on 0300 4561000 between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday.
How do I find a micro-provider near me?
The micro-providers are listed on several care and support directories. Some of which are listed below:
What to do if you would like to use a micro-provider
As you are organising your own care and support independently, without us doing this for you, it is very important to:
- know exactly what it is you want from the service you are paying for.
- know about the micro-provider you would like to use.
It is strongly recommended that before you use the services of a micro-provider, you speak to or meet them first. You will be purchasing services or support directly from them, so you need to be sure they do what you want in the way you want it.
Our checklist can help you think about what to consider.
Firstly, you need to have a clear idea of:
- What support you need.
- How you want it.
- When you want it.
You can share this information with a micro-provider that you are interested in using, and they will be able to tell you if they can offer you this type of support in this personalised way.
Secondly, you need to get to know the Micro-provider.
Always make sure that your Micro-provider has the basics:
- A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.
- Insurance.
- Safeguarding Training.
- Business Registration.
Other things to think about
Depending on what support service you need, here is a list of other things you may need to think about when looking into the micro-provider you are interested in using.
- Specific training.
- Policies and procedures.
- Risk assessments.
- Terms and conditions.
- Invoicing information.
If you want any more information about the Development Programme please contact Nick Hughes, Deputy Team Manager, Edge of Care Team Denbighshire on nick.hughes@denbighshire.gov.uk or 07747461646.
If you have any safeguarding concerns, contact Denbighshire County Council Adult Social Care and Homelessness Service Safeguarding Team on:
0300 4561 000 8am - 6pm Mon to Fri and 10am - 4pm on weekends and Bank Holidays; 0345 053 3116 outside of these hours.