Can I be her Carer?

[Ordinarymum2]

I’m a teacher who is only employed during term time ( no holiday pay) I will need to look for a temp job during the coming summer holidays.

Our county council pay for 50 hours of domiciliary care for our 27 year old intellectually disabled daughter while we are at work.

Would the council consider employing me as her carer over the holidays? I know I’d have to register for tax etc, but surely it would make sense. Any thoughts or possible answers?

[Jofisher]

you should be able to yes I know families that do and let’s face it who better to do it and we are in a crisis regarding carers and this would definitely be in your daughters best interest.

[MontyCat]

I think this would probably be dependent on your local authority and how flexile they are prepared to be. I believe that as a rule they do not permit family members to act as paid carers or PAs, but we did manage to employ my elder daughter as a PA for her younger sister for a time. This was some time ago (ten years or more) so things may have changed since. There is no harm in making enquiries - it is the logical choice and would be in your daughter's best interests in terms of quality of care - it just depends on how your local council believes it should spend our (taxpayers) money which of course, they treat as if it were their own. Good luck - I hope you succeed.

[alicejemma]

You need to consider how this would impact on the regular package of care. If you are happy with the current provider and carer/s, you may find that they are not available when you return to your teaching role. Those carers also need the income and may well be allocated care hours that are not term time only. Just a thought.

[olive001]

Hi, I have a dis-abled 39 yr old son with complex needs so I am hoping to share my experiences with you.

Do you get a Direct Payment (DP) for your daughter? If not, how have you managed the summer holidays before?

You say the Council pay 50 hours of domiciliary care while you are at work. What happens for the rest of the time / days? Do you do the caring?

Just reading the other responses about SS not paying for a carer who lives in the same home. Its true. As her mother, do you get carers DP for the times you look after your daughter?

If you do not get a DP, you are entitled so contact the social services / worker and ask for it to be processed asap. Could you get a DP for your daughter's employ other carers for the summer holiday?

Best wishes

[Ordinarymum2 in reply to olive001]

Hi We do get a DP that we use to pay the agency for PA care. We are new to the UK and only recently been awarded this care so haven’t had a holiday yet where this has been relevant. If we don’t use the full 50hours a week allowance, what do the Dept say about that? Will we lose it? Some days I get home earlier for example. Sorry I’m so blooming ignorant about this all.

[olive001 in reply to Ordinarymum2]

It's all a learning process so don't put yourself down :-). Its all about Contracts. Do you have the Contract where you and the LA signed to get the DP? On ours it just says that if we do not spend all the funds before the DP year ends, they can ask for the funds back. Do you know when the DP started and when the DP year ends?

Check your Contract. If you don't have it, ask for it asap. Keep in touch if you need any further info. You are a super-mum, not ordinary in any way x

[Ordinarymum2 in reply to olive001]

Aww thank you 🥰