Advice on booking carers through Local Council

[Megabrew88]

Aside from the fact that they do all the necessary contract filing and negotiating and providing check and balance, are there really other benefits to using the LC to book an agency, if you are self funding?

Would appreciate any thoughts on this.

Thanks

[Kevin_1]

Hi

Yes, there are a number of advantages.

I don't know your area, but in much of the UK there is a shortage of community care resources... that's people on the ground delivering home care.

Agencies mainly make their living from contracts from the Soc. Serv. and NHS. Thus they will squeeze an extra client in sometimes when they might say no to a private individual.

I have found that (?)all agencies give lower rates to the NHS and Soc. Services too. So it's worth getting them to do the booking and make sure you get their rates.

Finally we had a lot of trouble with agencies. One kept doing 'no-shows', another regularly turned up hours late. One had some appalling staff both on the count of skill and empathy. At that point I decided to find an agency myself. I couldn't find any with vacancies. The CHC team found one within a day.

There are other upsides such as being able to complain to the the Soc. Serv. or NHS if the service is poor. The agency will listen if you say that is where they are driving you.

Downsides? I can't think of any off the top of my head. If you tell the Soc. Serv. /NHs that the service is poor and you want a change then they should do that for you and they know the agencies.

Hope this helps

Kevin

[Megabrew88 in reply to Kevin_1]

Thanks Kevin for your usual prompt wisdom!

I’m really not happy with our current care agency and I’ve identified another agency who is willing to take us on and they happen to be in the list of agencies from our local council. I have a choice of contracting them privately or a self funding thru our local council as we are now.

I’m also thinking that with the local council involve it would facilitate our CHC re application in the future as they would then have a data of evidence, and we will be in their radar.

Mx

PS

Hope Liz is better today.

[Kevin_1 in reply to Megabrew88]

Spot on - You have it totally sussed.

Now who is the wise one

Liz had a visit from her sister today... So I didn't see her... But yesterday was good.

I finally, finally, got the ponds finished today... It's Liz's big thing... the water feature is working as it should and the newts and frogs gave the thumbs up. The dragon flies and damsel flies visit all day... But they get up to naughty... So we ignore them.

She has her girlfriends coming round tomorrow for a belated birthday party... I can't wait to see her face when she sees the ponds finished - five years to get them working correctly.

I'm going to post with pics tomorrow.

Moggsie is keeping everything crossed for tomorrow... Nothing new there, she is hopeful for a good day, sleeping probably.

Good luck.

[raincitygirl in reply to Kevin_1]

I can hardly wair!! Liz will definitely want to visit home more often with that pond. Looking fwd to the pix!

Anne G.

[Ratcliffe in reply to raincitygirl]

I think you guys have pretty much I got it sorted, but I would add one thing, if you are through the council, and the carer booked for you that day rings in sick, the care co. Will have to find someone to come, as if they don't they be in serious hot water with the local authority. So you have some security that someone will be there. I found that the care company we used had very good carers generally, you had to sort of think of the appointment time as a fifteen minute window as they were never given travel time, but when they got there the care was good, and you got your full time so it was a OK by us.

[Megabrew88 in reply to Ratcliffe]

Thanks and noted. I know, some care agencies don’t seem to treat their carers well, thus the shortage of carers.

[Megabrew88 in reply to Kevin_1]

Oh that’s great Kevin!

I’m sure Liz will have a fab celebration and will appreciate all your efforts... although they may not show it - as my B seemingly looks apathetic to everything .... I know in my heart they still see and appreciate thing (and us)😍