Personalised Direct Payment support

Turn your Direct Payment into support that fits your life

✓ New or existing Direct Payments

✓ Free to access

✓ Face-to-face support available

Everyone deserves support that fits around their life, not the other way round.

Empower is a local, not-for-profit organisation helping disabled people, older people and their families make informed choices about care and support. We provide clear advice and practical help with Direct Payments, so you can understand your options, find and employ a Personal Assistant, and manage support safely and independently.

  • I’m looking for support

    New to Direct Payments, or already using them? We’ll help you understand how they work, what you’re responsible for and how to find a Personal Assistant. Together, we’ll explore how your Direct Payment can support your wellbeing, independence and everyday life.

    How we help

  • I want to make a difference

    As a Personal Assistant, you could help someone with daily routines, personal care or getting out and about. No previous care experience is needed. If you’re kind, reliable and interested in helping someone live independently, we’d like to hear from you.

    Become a PA

  • I’m looking for a local partner

    We work alongside council teams to help residents understand Direct Payments, find Personal Assistants and manage their support. Our not-for-profit team brings professional expertise and lived experience, with face-to-face guidance that helps residents put their choices into practice.

    Partner with us
Older man using a laptop with a woman assisting him at home.
Older man using a laptop with a woman assisting him at home.

More say in the support
you receive

A Direct Payment is money from your council to arrange care and support that meets your assessed needs. It can let you choose who supports you, when they come and how they help. There’s a lot to think about. We make it easier to understand, one step at a time.

About Direct Payments

1. Understand your options

We listen to what matters to you and explain how Direct Payments could work in your life.

2. Find the right Personal Assistant

We help you find someone who suits your needs, interests and routines, with practical support from advertising and interviews to pre-employment checks.

3. Feel confident taking control

We explain your responsibilities as an employer and help you understand contracts, payroll and insurance, so there’s less to worry about.

  • “Empower are a highly valued partner, helping Barking and Dagenham residents make the most of their Direct Payments with greater choice, control and flexibility. They help residents understand their responsibilities and work closely with us to make the process smoother. The team are knowledgeable, responsive and genuinely committed to the people they support.”

    Mohammed Mayet, Lead Commissioner for Older People, LB of Barking and Dagenham

  • “Karen, our coordinator at Empower, has gone far beyond what I would ordinarily expect. Her support has been personal, compassionate and genuinely caring. She listens, communicates clearly and makes people feel that their circumstances matter. Even when dealing with difficult or uncertain care arrangements and funding, she has remained patient, approachable and professional.”

    Heiron, supported by Empower

  • “They have helped me grow as a person by giving me the confidence to employ my own staff. It has really enriched my life.”

    Sarah, supported by Empower

Personal support.
From personal experience.

Our team brings over 40 years’ combined experience in social care, employment and advocacy. Everyone in our team and on our Board has lived experience of navigating care and support, so we understand how confusing the system can feel.

We’re a local team, who take time to get to know you. Wherever possible, we meet face to face, so you can ask questions, explore options and decide what’s right for you.

A few questions you might have

  • No. We help you understand and use Direct Payments to arrange your own care and support. This can include helping you find and employ a Personal Assistant.

  • We explain your options and help you understand what’s involved. If you choose to employ a Personal Assistant, we can help with recruitment, pre-employment checks and understanding your responsibilities as an employer.

  • Yes. Our Direct Payment advice and support is free for people using our council-funded service in Barking and Dagenham.

  • Yes. We can review how your current arrangements are working and help you understand responsibilities such as employment contracts, insurance and payroll.

  • Yes. If you’re helping a family member explore or manage Direct Payments, we can explain the options and how you can support them.