Does anyone get Direct Payments to pay for their care? If so maybe you can advise..

[trianon]

I get Direct Payments from the local council to enable me to employ my choice of carer, its all 'above board' taxed etc. I get enough to pay for 19 hours per week. I have a permanent carer and a 'backup' (in case of sickness/holidays etc) and she works the weekend too. I have no problems with the permanent carer personally, she was a friend for a few years before I employed her, however, her sickness records is to be blunt appalling! Since November 2011 she has had 92 days off sick (which is rather a lot when you consider she only works 14 hours a week). She;s currently been off sick since November 2012 and has another month to go. (On top of this are all the 'odd' days of sick!). I've been in touch with the legal team on my Direct Care insurance and am about to go down the route of obtaining information from her GP to assess her ability to return to work. To be honest I don't want her to come back at all. I need a carer for a variety of things the biggest is personal care and I really don't see why I should have to continue have someone I don't want to employ anymore doing personal things like helping me shower etc. I don't want to sound harsh - I know for a fact that some of the periods of sickness have been no more than wanting time off and I have had enough. Has anyone else had any experience like this, what did you do - what would you advise me to do. I know all you lovely lot out there will have some advice.

[Shell1967]

Hi I work for direct payments through my local council, I'm employed as a personal assistant.im so sorry your going through this, as I know full well the impact on not having someone to care for you on a regular basis,you need someone who is reliable.92 days well I have Ra and only had 3 days off in a year !! You could always ring direct payments and discuss all this.tell them you cannot continue as you are and they will help you find someone else to care for you.let them know you have now had enough.you do have a big say in all this , as if this was my employer and I was being like your carer, unreliable etc he would certainly not put up with it.have you a temporary carer now who's helping you?i do hope so. Please ring them Tomo to discuss all your concerns.take care Michelle xx

[earthwitch]

Can you get advice from CAB on this? They should be able to find out what all your options are. The Disability Welfare Officers from CAB can also usually come out to your home if you have difficulty getting in. You might also be able to get advice from your council, if thats where the direct payments are coming from. They could probably tell you your rights with this kind of employment.