If you or a family member hold a Direct Payment or a Personal Budget, you have a genuine say in who provides your care at home and how that support is delivered. This guide explains how the different funding routes compare, what you can expect to be responsible for, and the questions worth asking before you choose a home care provider in Bradford, Shipley or the wider West Yorkshire area.
We are NU Healthcare Provisions Ltd, a home care provider based on Bradford Road in Shipley, founded and managed by a qualified nurse. For a shorter guide to using a Direct Payment with a home care agency, see using Direct Payments for home care.
The funding routes, in plain English
| Funding route | What it is |
|---|---|
| Local authority Personal Budget | The total amount your council calculates is needed to meet the needs agreed in your care and support plan. It can be managed by the council, taken partly or wholly as a Direct Payment, or a mix of both. |
| Direct Payment | A cash payment from the council, paid to you instead of the council arranging care on your behalf, so you can arrange your own support. It must be used to meet the needs in your agreed plan. It can be paid to you, or to a representative if someone helps you manage it. |
| NHS Personal Health Budget | For people with ongoing healthcare needs who have been assessed as eligible. It is the NHS equivalent of a personal budget, usually planned with your NHS team, and can include a direct payment for healthcare. |
| NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) | Fully NHS-funded care for people with a primary health need, arranged under a national framework and not means-tested. Care can be arranged by the NHS or, in some circumstances, taken as a direct payment. |
| Self-funding | You arrange and pay for your own care privately. |
The amount in each case is decided by the council or the NHS after an assessment of your needs. It is not set by a care provider, and we cannot advise you on benefits, entitlements or how much you should receive. If you are unsure which route applies to you, your social worker, the council's direct payments team or your NHS care team can tell you.
What holding the budget actually gives you
When you take your budget as a Direct Payment, the practicalities change in a few important ways:
- You choose the provider. You are not restricted to the organisations the council contracts with.
- You agree the plan of care. Visit times, the tasks each visit covers and the way support is delivered are agreed with you.
- The provider works for you. We are there to deliver what your plan sets out, in the way you want it done.
- You can change arrangements. If something is not working, you can review it and, where it is appropriate, change how your care is arranged. Speak to your social worker or direct payments team first so your plan and budget stay in step.
Councils usually ask for records showing how the payment was spent, and unspent money may need to be returned. Your direct payments team will explain exactly what they need from you.
Questions worth asking a provider
Every provider should be able to answer these clearly. Ask them before you commit, and ask for the answers in writing:
- Do you accept Direct Payments and NHS Personal Health Budgets as payment?
- How and when are invoices issued, and who do I pay?
- Can you work within the number of hours my plan sets?
- What happens if my needs change, or I want to increase or reduce my visits?
- Who covers a visit if my usual care worker is ill or on holiday?
- Who recruits, trains and supervises the care staff who will visit me?
- What records will you give me that I can pass to my direct payments team?
- Who is my main point of contact, and how and when do I reach them?
- Can I meet the person who will be supporting me before care starts?
- What are your terms if I need to end the arrangement, or if I want to change provider later?
Employing a personal assistant, or using a care provider
With a Direct Payment you have two broad options, and many people use a combination of both.
Employ a personal assistant (PA). You become the employer. That means handling recruitment, contracts, pay and tax, pension arrangements, insurance, background checks and cover when your PA is on leave or unwell, along with the paperwork that goes with it. It offers the closest possible fit to your routines, and it carries the most responsibility. Many councils offer payroll and support services to help.
Use a home care provider. The provider employs the care workers, so recruitment, background checks, training, supervision, insurance and sickness and holiday cover sit with them. You agree the plan of care and the times of your visits. There is much less administration for you, and continuity is managed by the provider.
If your priority is direct control over who comes in, a PA may suit you. If your priority is reassurance that cover, training and paperwork are handled reliably, a provider is usually the steadier option. Some people have a PA for the visits where routine matters most, and a provider for the rest.
Working with us
We are set up to work with people who use Direct Payments, Personal Budgets and NHS Personal Health Budgets. Before care starts, we agree:
- the times of your visits and the tasks each visit will cover
- how we invoice, and how your records reach you
- who your named point of contact is
- an introductory visit before care starts, so you can meet us and decide whether we are the right fit — we always offer this
- how and when we will review your care together
If any part of that changes, we will talk it through with you and update the plan with your agreement.
Our CQC registration
NU Healthcare Provisions Ltd is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to provide personal care to adults in their own homes. Our registration was granted on 15 December 2025. The CQC has not yet inspected our service, so we do not hold a rating. You can view our CQC record directly at cqc.org.uk/location/1-26072982516.
Founded and managed by a qualified nurse
NU Healthcare Provisions is founded and managed by a qualified nurse. Our Registered Manager carries out the free home assessment, writes the care plan with you and reviews it as needs change.
Areas we cover
We cover Shipley, Saltaire, Baildon, Bingley, Keighley, Ilkley, Otley and Wharfedale, and the Bradford district, and we welcome enquiries from across West Yorkshire. If you are not sure whether we reach your address, our areas-we-cover page lists the places we work, or you can simply call and ask.
Frequently asked questions
Can I choose my own provider with a Direct Payment? Yes. Choosing your own provider and arranging your own support is the purpose of a Direct Payment. Your provider must be able to deliver the care described in your agreed plan.
Do I have to employ a personal assistant? No. You can use a home care provider instead, or employ a PA for some visits and use a provider for others.
Can I change provider part-way through? Generally yes. Tell your social worker or direct payments team so your plan and budget stay in step, and agree an end date with your current provider so there is no gap in your care.
Can we meet the care worker before care starts? With us, yes. We always offer an introductory visit before care starts.
Will you tell me how much my budget should be? No. The amount is decided by the council or the NHS following an assessment of your needs. We will work with you within the hours your plan sets out, and we can help you describe the support you need if you are preparing for an assessment.
Ready to talk it through
- Enquire about care — our contact page at /contact
- Call us — 01274 214093
- Email us — enquiries@nuhealthcareprovisions.com
- Make a referral — if you are a social worker, NHS professional or family member, our referral form is at /referral
- Check your area — our areas-we-cover page is at /areas-we-cover
If you are still deciding, we are happy to talk through your options with no obligation. An introductory visit is always offered before care starts.
Articles provide general information and do not replace advice tailored to your circumstances.