Purpose
To set out our policy in respect of paying those we work in partnership with who use support and those who are unpaid carers.
Principle
As a matter of good practice we wish to recognise the input of those we work with on a range of projects who are not waged or work for organisations with limited funding. However we ourselves are a small voluntary sector organisation and are therefore constrained by our own resources in how we can operate. This policy seeks to set a balance between recognising the value of a range of contributions and the reality of limited resources.
People who access support and unpaid carers
We should start from the principle that each full day of participation in collaborative projects is paid at the rate of £150, pro rata for half a day. Travel costs are reimbursed on top of this. The Department of Health publication, Reward and Recognition (2006), usefully defines activities that would be paid and those that would not. For example being part of a working group would; completing a survey would not.
This principle is likely to be thwarted in its implementation in many instances where individuals are receiving a range of benefits. Although the DH publication allows for 'one-off payments' (and I have successfully operated this in the past,) the publication does not of course relate to Scotland; moreover there are a range of interpretations. Practice should be to start from the premise of the day rate and discuss with the individual how this can be paid to them (or alternatively to an organisation with which they are associated) and their preference. Tokens can be an alternative, while some situations allow for payments to be averaged out over a number of weeks. Individual circumstances will vary.
As a matter of good practice we should ensure that all travel is reimbursed on the day if required - or indeed booked in advance if an individual is travelling some distance.
Small voluntary sector organisations
There may be occasions where we wish to work in partnership with small voluntary sector organisations but this is precluded by their funding situation. In such situations there may be an argument for a contribution to costs; this should be negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
