Build the case for Better Direct Payments for your ICB
Across England, fewer than 1 in 6 Personal Health Budgets are currently delivered through Direct Payments, yet ICBs that empower families to manage care directly report stronger satisfaction, lower turnover, and reduced unplanned costs.
In just 5 minutes, benchmark your ICBs readiness for scalable Direct Payments and receive a personalised Case-for-Change Pack based on national NHS data.
Smarter spending = sustainable care
Answer 10 short questions and receive your Direct Payment Case-for-Change Report, evidence-based insights for your ICB, completely free.
Why Thrive?
Thrive Care Solutions brings together lived experience, system knowledge, and data-driven insight to help ICBs turn Personalisation ambitions into measurable outcomes.
With more than a decade of combined experience supporting families, health teams, and commissioners, Thrive bridges the gap between NHS frameworks and the real-world delivery of Direct Payments..
Our approach is simple:
Understand your challenges, co-design solutions that fit your system, and empower your teams and families to deliver Direct Payments confidently and sustainably.
What sets us apart
- Lived Expertise
Over 10 years of first-hand experience with complex care and Personal Health Budgets. We understand both commissioning frameworks and the day-to-day realities for families. - Collaborative Partnership
Every ICB operates differently. That’s why we co-design our support, from discovery to delivery, around your local structures, workforce, and priorities. - Evidence-Led Improvement
We use national PHB data and local insight to deliver measurable results: reduced agency dependence, improved family satisfaction, and increased team confidence. - From Insight to Action
We don’t just assess readiness, we help you implement the change. Thrive partners with ICBs to move from what’s possible to what’s proven.
Improving Quality of Life, One Family At A Time
Discover, Transform and Scale your Direct Payment PHBs
Answer 10 short questions and receive your Direct Payment Case-for-Change Report, evidence-based insights for your ICB, completely free.
The PHB Reality
- Over 190,000 people now have a Personal Health Budget.
- Yet only around 15% of those budgets are managed through Direct Payments, despite evidence that they’re more flexible, more stable, and often more cost-effective.
- Most PHBs are still tied to agency or notional arrangements, where costs are higher, continuity is lower, and families have less control.
- Studies show that moving from agency-managed to Direct Payment care can generate savings of 10–35% per package, simply by reducing overheads and enabling families to build consistent teams of carers.
- ICBs that have invested in strong Direct Payment systems report fewer package breakdowns, fewer complaints, and greater family satisfaction — alongside improved staff retention and morale.
Why it matters to you
If you’re not maximising your Direct Payment offer, you could be:
- Overspending on agency fees that deliver no extra value.
- Missing opportunities to empower families and improve stability.
- Carrying hidden risks from inconsistent processes or unclear governance.
This short assessment helps you understand where your ICB stands and what could be achieved by closing that gap.
Source: NHS England PHB statistics 2023–24 / 2024–25.
Answer 10 questions and we’ll send you a report with feedback personalised to your Direct Payment needs. It quick and free.
Empowering families with Direct Payments
Answer 10 short questions and receive your Direct Payment Case-for-Change Report, evidence-based insights for your ICB, completely free.
Who is this designed for?
For NHS professional and ICB Leaders Focused on Personalisation, Direct Payments and Sustainability
Answer 10 short questions and receive your Direct Payment Case-for-Change Report, evidence-based insights for your ICB, completely free.
Whether you work in commissioning, finance, quality, PHB delivery, or senior leadership, this quick readiness assessment helps your ICB understand how ready it is to:
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Offer consistent, equitable Direct Payments.
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Transition families confidently from agency care.
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Deliver better outcomes and financial efficiency.