Employing a PA - question about wages and direct payments

Ani246

Hi I’d be really grateful if there’s anyone out there who’s been in a similar situation who can answer my question.

 My adult daughter has just received a card for direct payments to employ a PA. The hourly rate stated in her support plan is much lower than the hourly rate the PA she wants to employ charges. Is she allowed to pay the higher rate, knowing this will mean she will receive less hours than stated in her support plan? She feels she will get more benefit from this experienced person she knows in fewer hours.

The general idea as I understand it is to give an individual more independence to choose the support they receive. However we don’t want to do this and then find her support plan is changed to fewer hours and less funding.

JustPete

Hi @Ani246 & daughter!  If you have yet to be welcomed to our community let me welcome you - I hope you will find info and discussions on here that will assist both you and your daughter.

Everything you have outlined makes sense.  I will outline my own situation as some kind of guidance.

I live alone & I require 24hour support.  It is written in my care-plan.  I require 'well-being' support'.  It is written in my care-plan.  I must stick to my care-plan. I must use my DP in accordance with my care-plan.

This can be extremely frustrating.  I spent a long time fighting to get an increase, citing the reality of being unable to recruit carers, or retain the ones I had, on the budget set out in that care plan.  I, like your daughter, really need continuity of carers.  Finally, I did get an increase because a duty-social-worker 'got it/understood'.

My advice, frustrating as it is, is to get your social worker back.   I would first try to get increased funding otherwise your daughter looses a very good PA and your daughter REQUIRES continuity.

If that is rejected then you may need to try a different tactic.  Come back to me/us if you require further advice.

You can put @JustPete in a response so i can see how you are getting on.

Ani246

Thank you so much @JustPete for your reply and advice. It’s so helpful to hear from someone in a similar situation and you’re right PAs are simply not paid enough. I’m not sure our council will pay any more as I’ve been told any difference would need to be paid by us, but like you say it might be worth another try.

JustPete

@Ani246 definitely try again - don't go straight to your own pocket.  At the end of the day we experienced a lot during the pandemic, and were promised a lot post-pandemic.  Your daughter deserves the right kind of support and, in my opinion, should get it.

Hate to say it but just keep fighting!