Personal Assistant options & choices

[Cakes2695]

Hello Everyone,

Does anyone have any experience in becoming a PA for a family member? This is to work along side other carers ( in a care team ) Trying to think and act creatively in order that my daughters needs are met and this next placement doesn't fail ? She will be moving into a housing assoc rental.

Any advice would be welcomed in how this can be done if at all ?

Thanks

[Galwaybay2]

The roles may have changed but I believe family members are not allowed to be employed on direct payments. Worth checking with your social worker.

[Cakes2695 in reply to Galwaybay2]

Thank you for this, I believe in certain circumstances this can be implemented. I will be checking this out and once I get a reply I will share what our LA has confirmed. If LA care teams are failing then family should have the right to step in.

[SpeedyH]

There are different rules for each of the UK countries, whether you are getting Direct payments or if it is a commissioned service, and whether the Direct payments come from a CHC (health) budget or adult social care. In the case of England social care Direct payments (which is the only scenario I am familiar with), there are no restrictions on family members, even parents, providing care for someone they do not live with. (Even if your daughter does live with you, the Local Authority has the discretion to allow family members living with her to be paid if there are special circumstances).

Logistically, there are a few hurdles. You need to have an 'employer' who cannot be yourself and also you cannot be the authorised person who administers the Direct payment due to potential conflict of interest. Most local authorities have an organisation/dept who will manage the Direct payments for your daughter and some will be an employer. The downside is that you give up the day to day control of the direct payment. Another option might be to transfer DP authority to another trusted family member and perhaps they could be your employer but you would have to research if this is possible.

The legal frame work around DPs is the 'care and support (direct payments) regulations'.

legislation.gov.uk/uksi/201...

[Cakes2695 in reply to SpeedyH]

Thank you for this , I am currently waiting on LA decision which I hope will allow us to choose the type of care she really needs. My daughter has been badly let down and I don't feel a 1 size fits all. Really need them to be flexible and think outside the box which will result in a successful outcome for my daughter.

[Mybestfriends]

Interested to know the answers on this too. My adult Son will be once again being Housed into a Housing Assoc property, he's currently on the road to Recovery, but has his Benefits into his own Bank Account. I am Carer & Mum with POA. Point is I am Unpaid & he will be being Assessed for Floating/incoming Support, but Independent Living. Not sure if I will be able to receive any Payment's for my Caring role to him (which they take from His Benefits) this money He Needs & I would Hope it would be paid seperate to his Benefits money, as he Needs all for his out going costs of living by himself etc. Let us know your outcome please.

[Cakes2695 in reply to Mybestfriends]

I will update you once my Social worker has confirmed the outcome. I don't claim any benefits for caring I have POA H/W & F. I really think it's about time that LA looked more at more flexible approach to provide care. My daughter needs 247 care so it equates to 7x247 =168 this should be able to be delivered however my daughter needs. It's her budget Eg If she wants to spend the weekend with me or Dad we won't need the carer to come and stay in our homes or if at a day centre she doesn't need the carer as they have staff who support. However LA seem to think it ok to waste the budget rather than allow family to be part of their loved ones care & life.

We have to allow strangers & unproven care teams into the homes of vulnerable adults. Hoping everything will be ok, so my idea is that i'm the PA. I can train the staff to my daughters needs. I can then ensure services are being delivered to the letter. LA's do not monitor any of the care so you are on your own when it fails. So whatever happens here i'm challenging them . These contracts are lucrative and the care team want it all - They aren't family its about the MONEY. We have had a amazing support workers but not all of them care or listen .. they don't have the training either so it's a vicious circle. My daughter was broken by the last team to a point whereby she could have come to serious harm or even death. Poor practices unwillingness to change as parents & guardians we need to fight. The only answer from them was to hospitalise her because they were failing. She came home and she is now happy & healthy living a great life. They don't have a clue !! So not on my watch will I allow Social care to dictate what my daughter needs to me or her. Don't be worried about standing up to SW & LA they need to change.

[Mybestfriends in reply to Cakes2695]

With you on All that you've said & keep fighting, Absolutely right it's all about the Money. So sorry your DD has suffered under their Care. I'm not having to 24/7 care in the same capacity or type of Care that you are, but I am 24/7 having to currently ASD, DD, ADHD, Schizophrenia 33yrs old Son whom went into Crisis, inpatient 2yrs ago nearly 3yrs been on my Settee waiting Appropriate independent living Housing Association Home with myself & incoming Support, which he will need another Assessment for once placed in his own Accommodation. Alot of Fear, Anxiety & Paranoia, Agraphobia currently you see, which we hope will lessen once away from our Home where the Mhealth Team took him from 3yrs ago now & he already suffered Trauma from a Dating Site Woman just before Covid & isolation. A mess!! Yes please would love to hear your Update & we will keep fighting for Family to be PA Carer's, our loved one's Need us to fight for their Wellbeing.

[49Twister in reply to Cakes2695]

Absolutely stand with you on what you say all the way. Unfortunately I am 74 and my son is 48, no other family so I know I can’t practically support him but I’m fighting for him to have better care, which seems hopeless but I’m not willing to give up. The particular support team “ supporting” my son class themselves as a “charity” !! and like you say they are a lucrative business, coining in all the money for doing nothing.

[Mybestfriends]

I think they only pay your NI Stamp & no family member unless Living with Cared for. Your then I think Claiming all Benefits for the Cared for & allocate their Benefits to all their every day needs, & interests , Hobbies, Travel, Equipment & Care coming in etc

[Tracidu]

Thankyou for this post , its exactly what I have been thinking for years . 168 hours a week should be mentioned more when 24/7 care is needed. . Too me its bringing home how much we really do as 35 hrs a week is often mentioned as all you have to do to be a carer .... My son recieves a direct payment for respite and his few hours in daycare centre is payed direct from the LA . He lives at home with me . This package was set up 16 years ago and hasnt changed . Although I have had a lot of ups and downs with carers and agencies which has been so very stressful over the years but as you say we have to keep fighting to get thier needs met.

I would love to find somewere for my 38 yr old son to move on with perfect care but what I have looked at recently I know he wouldn't cope . I am 70 in May and I know I have to find a place for him and its been a constant worry for me .

A residential care home I looked at charge £35 an hour for 168 hrs a week . So the actually cost is £6000 per week.

. I do the same job and because I recieve the state pension the carers allowance stops ,

Recognition for what we do would be good but not expected ., I would be very interested to hear the outcome of your journey for your daughter and wish you the best of luck , stay strong .x

[Cakes2695 in reply to Tracidu]

Thank you for your response .. the social workers don't want to talk like his because the funds are most likely being moved around. However this is totally unfair. I'm going to start a BIG dialogue about 168 how its broken down into a package that works for the person who needs it. I will update on here.