Direct Payments: Should You Say Yes to Requests for Support?
Direct Payments: Should You Say Yes to Requests for Support?
Why Direct Payments Aren’t Always the Right Fit
Direct Payments offer people greater choice and control over their care, but they also bring complexity for providers. Before accepting a new client with a Direct Payment, it’s important to weigh up the risks, rewards, and fit for your business model.
Factors to Consider Before Saying Yes
- Payment Security: Will payments be reliable, or are there risks of delayed or missed payments?
- Scale: Does supporting individual Direct Payment clients fit your business model, or will it drain resources?
- Safeguarding: Are you confident you can manage risks effectively without the usual local authority oversight?
- Alignment with Your Offer: Does the request align with your expertise, values, and strategy?
- Impact on Workforce: Are your staff prepared and supported to work flexibly and autonomously?
Balancing Opportunity and Risk
Direct Payments can be positive for providers who plan carefully and build the right processes. But they aren’t a shortcut to growth. Saying no can sometimes protect your reputation and resources.
💼 Rapid Support Products (fast turnaround options)
- ⚡ 48-Hour Tender Triage
- 🆘 Bid Rescue Session – 60 minutes
- ✍️ Score Booster – Tender Answer Rewrite
- 🧩 Tender Answer Blueprint
- 📝 Tender Proofreading & Light Editing
- 🔍 Pre-Tender Readiness Audit
- 📁 Tender Document Review
🚀 Need a Bid Writing Quote?
If you’re exploring support for an upcoming tender or framework, request a quick, no-obligation quote. I’ll review your documents and respond with:
- A clear scope of work
- Estimated days required
- A fixed fee quote
- Any risks, considerations or quick wins
🔁 Prefer Flexible Monthly Support?
If you regularly handle tenders, frameworks or call-offs, a Monthly Bid Support Retainer may be a better fit.
- Guaranteed hours each month (1, 2, 4 or 8 days)
- Discounted day rates vs ad-hoc consultancy
- Use time flexibly across bids, triage, library updates, renewals
- One-month rollover (fair-use rules applied)
- Cancel anytime before next billing date
🚀 Ready to Win Your Next Bid?
Chat on WhatsApp or email Mike.Harrison@impact-guru.co.uk
Updated for Procurement Act 2023 • CQC-aligned • BASE-aligned (where relevant)