The Kent Card

Supporting Direct Payments

Jean Penney - Project Manager, Independent Living - KCC

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

Future direction of Social Care

• Your Health, Your Care, Your Say

• Kent Adult Social Services - Active Lives

• Work with the Royal Bank of Scotland

• Statement of requirements

• First pre-loaded card for Direct Payments

Developing the Kent Card

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

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

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

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

KCC Investment

• Set-up cost per card - £15

• Annual charge - £25

• 24/7 support line

• Staffing resources

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

Investment for Providers

• New Merchant set-up fees - £150

• Terminal Rental - approximately £20 per month

• Card Transaction Charge - approximately 2%

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

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%)

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

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

Thank you for listening

QUESTIONS?

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