Gee, I am sorry to hear of your problems and can sympathise with you, having years of knowledge of the subject..
I also have PA/carers which I employ with my Self -Directed Payment from the council, which I contribute £75 per week, £300 paid per 4 weekly, which totals £3.900 per year, out of my DLA care payment of £400 four weekly.
Being on Option 1 of Self-Directed Payment’s, I can employ my own 2 Personal Assistants, who job share and cover the seven days a week. One has been with me for over 12 years and the other over 11 years and both know me inside out and very dedicated and reliable.
The only problem is that here in South Lanarkshire the council pay their own Homecare staff £16.45 per hour but tell us to pay the real living wage of £10.90 per hour, although I pay £12.50 per hour. If you use council or agency staff, then the council pay (themself or the agency) £21.65 per hour but if you go for option one, employing your own staff, then the council fund you at £14.65 per hour, which is £7 less than they claim themself, out of the same care (cake) budget, however this issue and blatant discrimination is about to go public very soon, as the Scottish care legislation does not support their discriminatory actions.
But it is certainly worth you looking into using Self-Directed Support Option 1 and using the councils care budget for you employing your own staff, which will give you the power (but also the legal responsibility) off being the employer of your own chosen PA (care) staff to work for you when you need them (within your budget).