Carers and Direct Payments Act (Northern Ireland) 2002

Vouchers

3.—(1) Regulations may make provision for the issue of vouchers by an authority.

(2) “Voucher” means a document whereby, if an authority agrees with the carer that it would help him care for the person cared for if the carer had a break from caring, the person cared for may secure that services in lieu of the care which would otherwise have been provided to him by the carer are delivered temporarily to him by another person by way of personal social services.

(3) The regulations may, in particular, provide—

(a) for the value of a voucher to be expressed in terms of money, or of the delivery of a service for a period of time, or both;

(b) for the person who supplies a service against a voucher, or for the arrangement under which it is supplied, to be approved by the authority;

(c) for vouchers to be issued to the carer or to the person cared for;

(d) for a maximum period during which a service (or a service of a prescribed description) can be provided against a voucher.