Evaluating direct payments in residential care: the perspective of care home providers

This article reports findings from the evaluation of the Direct Payments in Residential Care Trailblazers in England (2014–16). It focuses on the perspective of residential care providers on implementing direct payments, which aimed to improve the level of choice and control over care available to their residents. The article explores the views of providers, using interviews and survey responses of care home managers and owners. Concerns expressed by providers include issues that have arisen in domiciliary care but also issues specific to residential care, especially challenges in facilitating greater choice and control in settings that provide care collectively for substantial numbers of residents.