Discussion Boards Hints and tips
Finding a support worker
- By morello
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Mon 18 Aug 2008 14:40
Can anyone give me any suggestions, as a carer I didnt expect to have to be an employer and find staff too. My present support worker who I pay by Direct Payments may be leaving and I dont know how to go about finding the right person. My SS dept is all but useless - thank you for that DERBY- and I havent a social worker since the last one left. Do I advertise and if so do I use DP money as I cant afford it, on IS and half a carers allowance.
It will be desperate if I am left alone, with no support, my GP who has recently left was supportive but there is only so much they can do obviously. Now I really feel desperate and alone .
Mo
Replies
- By Tricia
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Re: Finding a support worker
Mon 18 Aug 2008 15:20Give your carers centre a ring and see if they have anyone on their files. I am aware that a lot of charity organisations who use to offer support are now having to consider becoming brokeragers in offering services where direct payments and Individual budgets are being used. Should you go up the route to use one of these services you tell them what it is you need and if the direct payment is insuffiicient they have the negogiationg (spell checker where are you when I need you?) powers to go to the local authority and ask for more money so they can deliver the services which you require. This does not mean that a flood gate will be opened in people wanting extra services but in most cases the services will be those which are stated in their carers assessment or the carees needs assessment.
I do know of carers who receive direct payment and they found putting in an advert in their local university got their ideal carer. They have been very successful in finding reliable support workers and who on average have been able to offer continious support for on average for three years then they have been able to replace them by a new student doing the same or similar course. Many of these students have already had experience in a caring role through a sibling or relative.
If you do consider going up the route of a local charity organisation to provide the workers ask them if they have a low turn over of employees as this will indicate that the staff which they have on their books as being reliable and like to remain there for a long time. Also there is more chance that these carers should of received adequate training or on going training while carrying out their caring role.
Good luck
I might be in a similar situation as yourself soon as my son leaves children services and he has informed me that he is not going to go to the adult unit for his respite. As he will be an adult by then I won't have as much say as I have had while he was a child. Therefore, I will require an alternative and shall have to look into all options available. I have been surprised at what is out there once I have got my feelers out!
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By debzsanderson
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Re: Finding a support worker
Mon 18 Aug 2008 16:54I thought it might be worth letting you know that when we first got Direct Payments our social worker told us that they will (on top of the Direct Payment money) pay for advertising for a new employee.Your social worker should be able to help with the advertising etc-if you need a new one let them know you need one quickly and give them the reason.
good luck
Debz xx
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By Lynne D
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Re: Finding a support worker
Mon 18 Aug 2008 23:39You should have a "slush fund" that is, left over monies from the DP, after you have paid wages and tax and NI, this fund is for expenses, holiday pay ect, this also includes advertising for new members of staff. Also - do you have a salary service, (who sort your staff wages out for you) and do they offer a support service? They maybe have a list of PAs looking for work in your area. Worth a try
It is a problem getting new staff, i wish you all the luck in the world, but the answer is............YES you can use your DP to pay for the advertising
- By morello
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Re: Finding a support worker
Tue 19 Aug 2008 10:18Many thanks all of you for the info, the woman I have at the moment I found as she worked at the respite place and seemed to know what she was doing . She has been very good for my caree but at the moment I am stuck between a rock and a hard place as she doesnt know when, if etc she may leave. I dont want to be left again with nobody,and feel very unsettled. I dont think I could cope any longer alone.
I dont understand this "slush fund" as I get about a pound for paper etc as I do the paper work myself, but was told you have to use all the funds up every month within the month and send back all the paper work, so I have no money left over.
The support worker is self employed so I dont have her money to sort out, just paying her.
Trying the college sounds good , but I have to have somebody with transport as because of poor mobility and seizures on top of everything else. Still will give it a try when I know what is happening.
Think I may ring the DP office up and ask about advertising etc,just so I dont get it wrong and they come back wanting money I havent got.
Does it make anybody else sick to think you are paying somebody over £200 a week for 21 hours and there is us,on less than £75 with IS and half a carers allowance to survive on. I feel like all this stress is catching me up and get one cold or infection after another and dont know what it feels like to sleep for more than 2 hours a night. Oh well I suppose if we collapse then somebody else will have to take over at a high cost to everyone.. Anyway I am rambling ta again
Mo