[Gee]

I dispensed with all of my carers recently because it was becoming waaaay too stressful for me.

Different carers daily (sometimes 3 different carers each day) and all carers had their own way of doing things which i was finding problematic because i really am a creature of habit.

Carers would not always even bother showing up but i would still be charged. And when they did show up they rarely arrived at the designated time.

Then there was the issue of length of time that carers would stay which once again bore no resemblance to the length of time that the agency was being paid to deliver.

It wasn’t all bad though because pretty much all carers were pleasant in nature and some were very good at what they did.

One observation being that maybe 75% of my carers were from Africa (predominantly Ghana) and some spoke English better than others. The agency owner was himself Ghanaian which probably accounted for why so many of my carers also came from Ghana.

Is the care system broke as is often quoted? i think it is.

There’s not enough carers across the entire country.

Very low pay for what is an incredibly tough job.

And many carers are in my experience poorly trained too.

 

 

Topic

[kezo]

I can see your point Gee!

[Gee]

Thank you @Kezo.

I hope everything is good for you my friend.

I read  your earlier ‘OLED’ posts and as is often the case your knowledge across so many subject matters is utterly marvellous!

Whichmobilitycar,co,uk would be a poorer place with no kezo so don’t ever quit please!

(unlike me who quits about once every fortnight!)

[callmejohn]

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).

[ajn]

Never used the services mentioned above, have however work part time taxi driving during the wife’s morn hours..

Ive seen, heard and discussed these problems from both sides..

Saddly it’s an on going problem todate.

One carer local to the area, used to get a taxi around using her own money to try keep to her time slots, then later I pick up the cared for paying person only to moan she’s late..

The carer would end up doing jobs of helping things such as light bulb changes, washing in, bins out all eating into her time..

So when the carer do arrive let them do the job and get on, others are waiting to, main hold up was chatting, over friendly, or complaining costumers..

The drivers local if quiet just charge her£1.50 to cover petrol..

Great carer trying her best saddly seems not many like her, maybe lots quit due to the unrealistic time scales they are trying to keep too, as we sit waiting, nothing worse than waiting, even this site adds waiting just to post..

Sometime the best people quit because the system is poor, and controlled poorly, others are lazy and just accept, maybe it’s payment for nothing, as the service you complain of..

Best thing in my life have been leaving behind failing fools..

[Gee]

@callmejohn

Thank you very much for your post.

I’m now going to be looking into Self Directed Payment.

@ajn

A big thank you to you too for your very informative post.

 

[ajn]

Hope it all works out well, nothing worse than problems on problems..

Best of luck with it..

[callmejohn]

Gee if you are looking into it, it is called (SDS) Self -Directed Support, if you google it you will find loads of information on it and nowadays most area’s have support groups with loads of first hand experience, it is certainly worth tapping into them.

I don’t know if you stay in England or Scotland or Wales or even Northern Ireland, but my experience is in Scotland. If you need any advice, feel free to ask me, as the principal of SDS has helped me immensely in my life, but council’s are less than helpful and less than encouraging for you to go down the root of option 1, as it takes trade away from them, that is why you need to contact your nearest SDS support group for advice and help. You will also need to contact your social worker to get things moving in that direction.

[Gee]

Good morning @callmejohn,

I’ve been busy googling SDS due entirely to your earlier post.

I think i’d heard something about SDS previously (possibly from Social Services) but like many other people it was easier to leave all of my care arrangements in the hands of my Social Worker / Care Manager.

Reading your post convinced me that perhaps there is a better way than just accepting whatever Social Services decide in terms of my care/support.

Thank you again @callmejohn.

[joss]

Hey @Gee Just a suggestion. Have you considered joining the forum by signing up? It will save having to wait for your post to be approved. They will show up instantly.

As I siad its just a suggestion

Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.

[Gee]

Good morning @joss,

I am already a member but for the last 2/3 weeks i have been unable to remember my login details resulting in me having to post my comments as a non member sadly.

Kind Regards

[joss]

@Gee I’ll message the Boss and get it sorted for you. @wmcforum Alternatively email to enquiries@whichmobilitycar.com

Joss
Current car: BMW X2 sDrive 20i M Sport 5dr Step Auto In metallic Portimão Blue. 04:10:2025
Previous car:Peugeot 308 GT Premium 1.2 Pure tech Petrol.

[Gee]

@joss Thank you very much.

[Phaedra]

I’ve been the sole carer for my adult Autistic son since he was first diagnosed at age 15 some 18 years ago.

I’ve tried social services (or whatever they’re called nowadays), various Autism support services, local council support and all have been a complete waste of time.  Finally got a nice lady through the housing Key Options team to help when I managed to get him his own flat.

The plan was that she would look after any problems he has with benefits, housing/rent accounts etc. etc. as my own disabilities are not getting any better.  He’s been in his flat since August 2021, the last time we could even get hold of her or anyone else was about 3-4 months after he moved in, they said he’s in and will be fine on his own!.

So here we are today, 18 years asking for help and as usual if I don’t do what he needs it doesn’t get done.  His mum barely has a relationship with him, she left about 4 months after he was diagnosed, she manages to send Xmas and birthday cards, sometimes on time, but that’s about it.  His elder brother can’t help as he lives in Amsterdam, hopefully his younger sister can step up after I’m gone but she has her own problems.

Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!

[ajn]

Phaedra as mention above,for a short while I did taxi driving during my Wife’s hours of work..

I remember an elderly  lady with not long to live and her son, we used to drop him to his unit after spending days/nights with her..

She used to open up her feelings, worries even to me after seeing him off safe and on the way home of how will he cope, she’s all he’s got and knows..

I used to say she’s guided him the best way she knows how, he will cope, he will have the strength you’ve shown to him, and he will get on..

Any after a while she died, a few people tended the service,  family, neighbours, and three other taxi drivers including me..

The son todate lives in a flat provided to him and is doing fine, only picked him up a few times after his Mums death, but every time we remembered and laughed about things she said, or complained of, hope she could here sometimes how well he got on afterwards..

[Gee]

@Phaedra

Your post was an incredibly tough read.

I hope lots of good things come your way because you and your’s certainly deserve lots of good things.

They said “he’s in and will be fine on his own!”

What a truly dispassionate thing to say.

Keep your chin up please @Phaedra – i know its quite tough to do at times.

Best Wishes

Gee

[Phaedra]

Thanks AJN & Gee 🙂

18 years ago I was much more able to look after him, even now he’s in his own place I’m still there 3 or 4 times a week.  He can get a few bits locally, there are some larger shops in Durham within 15-20mins walking distance but with his Autism a walk to the shops and back isn’t always either easy or even possible some days.

I’m there again picking him up tonight, I’m in Durham a couple of nights a week as I help run a local shooting club, the plan is for him to come back here tonight as we’re out at 6:30am tomorrow so he can go target shooting, something he’s quite good at and really enjoys.   Unfortunately there’s no way for him to get there on his own as it’s in the middle of nowhere!, so a 120 mile round trip for me.  After that we’re back here for the night while I do his washing etc.  Then out for lunch at his favourite cafe on Wednesday followed by a large shop at a couple of supermarkets then take him back home.

I’ll be there again Thursday evening after being at the club to check he’s ok and maybe get a takeaway in for us.  As they say rinse and repeat again next week!.

My worry (as it’s been for the last 18 years) is what happens to him after I’ve gone?, he can’t cope with sorting out changes to his rent, benefits etc. on his own and probably wouldn’t ask anyone for help if I’m not here.

Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!

[ajn]

Phaedra is it possible to maybe try the online shopping, both try working it out together then hopefully try encourage him to slowly take over the online food order, maybe try leaving the car sometimes and take a taxi to shorter destinations if out and about, accounts were/ think still available so possibly he could get used to that sort of thing for appointments etc..

It is a worry for any parent to what will they do when I’m gone and would understandably  be added concern due to your sons autism, one thing for sure what a great Dad he has in you..

[Callmejohn]

Gee you had certainly stopped your care before your post here on the 11th October.

[Author]

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