Help guide to using a micro provider
If you pay for your own care, or receive a Direct Payment from us, you can choose to pay for 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.
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?
For information on direct payments click the link below:
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.
Click this link below to complete the Micro-provider form: