摘要：Despite learning about the social model of disability in social work training, it is difficult to see how new workers can apply this model in practice in a care management system that seems so service-rather than needs-led. Against this background, the advent of direct payments is a major opportunity to promote choice, control and independent living at the heart of twenty-first century social care. While direct payments can seem like a challenge to the role and professional expertise of qualified social workers, they are a unique chance to deliver genuine empowerment and personcentred, needs-led approaches in a system that all too often does not let its workers strive to achieve these goals.
关键词：Social model of disability;direct payments;Independent living
