An insight into care

30/04/2008

I would like to advise MT readers to be wary regarding personalized budgets for care. I worked for Social Services for 20 years, and became very aware of how the so-called 'benefits' actually benefitted the Local Authority - because it was a cheaper option for them.

 

A typical example was a Personal Care Budget of a set amount annually awarded to a person needing care - rather than appointing a proper care worker. The reason? Care workers need to be paid for holidays, sickness, need Public Liability Insurance  - to say nothing of pension contributions.

 

And if the carer goes absent for any other reason, the department involved is responsible for finding a replacement - which can take hours ringing round potentially available workers. 

 

Even worse, if the department does not have a spare carer, they have to arrange or buy one in from the private sector  - not cheap. I hope everyone can see the implications for someone needing 4 x daily or 24 hour care ...

 

Mrs P Boyes, Lancashire