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