The Kent Card Supporting Direct Payments

1. The Kent Card Supporting Direct Payments Jean Penney - Project Manager, Independent Living - KCC

2. Background • Started with a vision about the future of social care and the use of technology • Introduction of Direct Payments • Barriers to Direct Payments - complex record keeping - auditing of accounts - difficulty opening bank accounts

3. Future direction of Social Care • Your Health, Your Care, Your Say • Kent Adult Social Services - Active Lives

4. Developing the Kent Card • Work with the Royal Bank of Scotland • Statement of requirements • First pre-loaded card for Direct Payments

5. How does the Kent Card work? • Tool to support Direct Payments • Commercial Visa Card that carries variable amounts of money • Purchase amount debited from available balance

6. Individuals:- • Complete a Kent Card application form with a KCC Officer • Top up the card account • Make cash withdrawals at ATMs • Use telephone and internet banking • Receive monthly statements • View statements on-line or at ATMs • Nominate a secondary cardholder to support them in use of the card

7. Benefits for individuals • Convenient and secure way of receiving funds • Reduces dependency • Increases choice and control for more individuals • Faster and easier access to a separate account • Produces an audit trail and reduces bureaucracy

8. Kent County Council • Completes Kent Card application form - including Know Your Customer Checks • KCC Administrator processes applications • Loads the account with the direct payment • Controls spend with blocking facilities - if appropriate • Provides 24/7 support from KCC Contact Centre • Audits financial management of direct payment on-line

9. KCC Investment • Set-up cost per card - £15 • Annual charge - £25 • 24/7 support line • Staffing resources

10. Benefits to KCC • Making Direct Payments more attractive to more people • Reduces administration and bureaucracy • Uses technology as a means to an end • Supporting personalised support agenda

11. Investment for Providers • New Merchant set-up fees - £150 • Terminal Rental - approximately £20 per month • Card Transaction Charge - approximately 2%

12. Supporting Providers • Until 30th May, KCC are paying the new merchant set up costs • For the first year, KCC will pay 1% of the merchant handling charge

13. Where are we to date? • 50 providers accept VISA or are in the process of setting up (31%) • 25 stated they are very interested and looking into it further (16%) • 51 have requested an information pack - most to be followed up in the next 2 weeks • 35 declined or feel it is not currently viable to set up (12%)

14. Benefits for Providers • More people purchasing their own support and seeking easy payment processes • Competitive advantage by accepting Visa and the Kent Card • Payment within 4 days

15. On going work • Compliance with Financial Services Authority requirements - Know Your Customer • Care Management buy-in • Client buy-in • Take up by providers • Paying individuals - i.e personal assistants

16. Thank you for listening

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