struggling to find a PA who is up for domestic chores and not 'paid fun activities'!

foxglove

hi guys, I am really struggling to find a PA  who understands that I need help with domestic chores and practical stuff that I struggle to do. I keep interviewing people who think it is all about sitting down and chatting, or going to nice places or doing fun activities.. I am not advertising for a social buddy, I put in my ad that I need domestic chores such as cleaning, cooking, decluttering, shopping etc, but when they come, they try and steer me towards fun activities.. I don't know if it is because my physical disabilities are invisible, or because I put what my hobbies are, or because I also put that I am also neurodiverse with mental health issues, but it seems so hard to get accross   that it is domestic work!.. 

I do struggle to be assertive and communicate my needs, and I've taken on 2 trials now with carers who didnt want to do the practical stuff I need doing.
I wish I could get a separate cleaner but social services insist the pa needs to be able to clean, not a cleaner or. an agency. 
I'm paying £13 an hour and there is no personal care.. where am I going wrong?! ive only had 3 aplicants in 2 years anyway, and ss is threatening to pull my budget if I dont use it, so I'm a bit under pressure. .. I welcome any feedback!.. this is my advert: 

PA needed, for disabled woman (age 51years) 6 hours P/W; hours/ days flexible.
Driving Licence essential.

Hours per week – 6
Hourly rate – £13
Genders which may apply for this job – Female DBS checks and references essential.

PA must be willing to wear a mask

Hello, 
I have various long term conditions , including, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Anxiety.

PA’s main duties include:
Weekly trip to Aldi
occasional  trip for wellbeing to local destinations
Preparing healthy vegetarian meals.
Running errands and driving me to medical appointments,in my car, if needed.
Keeping my home clean.
Minimal personal care (I attend to my own bathroom needs).
Help with laundry/changing bed etc.
Feeding my friendly cats and changing their litter tray.
Generally helping me to lead as fulfilling and independent life possible.

I am looking for a reliable, meticulous, calm, and level headed PA.
Must be cat friendly, of course!

My interests include arts, crafts and natural health.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Sandy_123

Hi @foxglove welcome to the comunity  I'm sorry your having difficulty with getting a pa to do domestic duties. When you interview, do you tell the person what house duties you want from them, I'm presuming you do, if so, then them not doing it, is wasting your time.  I don't understand why you can't just get a cleaner and why  social services won't agree to that, but I'm guessing they have their reasons.  If you've only had 3 applicants have you considered using other ways of advertising, like social media. 

foxglove

thanks sandy for your reply I do tell them, for sure, I'm wondering it is because i mention my hobbies and mental health, mayube that is giving the impression that i am looking for a carer to do activities with?
yes it is so frustrating that SS won't let me get a cleaner! they did agree and then took it off the table.

i haven't thought about advertising via social media.. Im not sure how to go about it, as I don't have loads of FB friends

Sandy_123

On fb there will be local groups in your area if u do a fb search you will find them, they mainly consist of local people with advice in the area and what's going on etc, people do ask for  pa s and local trademen/ women. Also selling sites in your area. Always get a dbs checks, references etc. As I'm sure you will. The volume of intrest will be more going that route. Its just where alot of people are these days. 
As well as that, there are lots of us to natter to here if you want to join in. I hope you find the right person soon.

poppy123456

If SS have refused for you to get a cleaner, is the cleaning duties in your care plan?

foxglove

it is in my care plan, yes

foxglove

thanks sandy.. I will look to join a local area fb group

L_Volunteer

Good luck with this @foxglove. How are you feeling about the idea of joining a local area fb group at the moment?

Please don't hesitate to let us know if we can do anything else to help. We are all here for you and listening to you 

Autismmum95

foxglove said:

hi guys, I am really struggling to find a PA  who understands that I need help with domestic chores and practical stuff that I struggle to do. I keep interviewing people who think it is all about sitting down and chatting, or going to nice places or doing fun activities.. I am not advertising for a social buddy, I put in my ad that I need domestic chores such as cleaning, cooking, decluttering, shopping etc, but when they come, they try and steer me towards fun activities.. I don't know if it is because my physical disabilities are invisible, or because I put what my hobbies are, or because I also put that I am also neurodiverse with mental health issues, but it seems so hard to get accross   that it is domestic work!.. 

I do struggle to be assertive and communicate my needs, and I've taken on 2 trials now with carers who didnt want to do the practical stuff I need doing.
I wish I could get a separate cleaner but social services insist the pa needs to be able to clean, not a cleaner or. an agency. 
I'm paying £13 an hour and there is no personal care.. where am I going wrong?! ive only had 3 aplicants in 2 years anyway, and ss is threatening to pull my budget if I dont use it, so I'm a bit under pressure. .. I welcome any feedback!.. this is my advert: 

PA needed, for disabled woman (age 51years) 6 hours P/W; hours/ days flexible.
Driving Licence essential.

Hours per week – 6
Hourly rate – £13
Genders which may apply for this job – Female DBS checks and references essential.

PA must be willing to wear a mask

Hello, 
I have various long term conditions , including, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Anxiety.

PA’s main duties include:
Weekly trip to Aldi
occasional  trip for wellbeing to local destinations
Preparing healthy vegetarian meals.
Running errands and driving me to medical appointments,in my car, if needed.
Keeping my home clean.
Minimal personal care (I attend to my own bathroom needs).
Help with laundry/changing bed etc.
Feeding my friendly cats and changing their litter tray.
Generally helping me to lead as fulfilling and independent life possible.

I am looking for a reliable, meticulous, calm, and level headed PA.
Must be cat friendly, of course!

My interests include arts, crafts and natural health.
I look forward to hearing from you.

I hope that you got sorted with a pa.

Best wishes 

Maria 

Spoonbill

Apologies for necro-post, but have you read https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/resources/being-control-getting-personal-assistants-pas#Searching ? Also if there's an ILC near you they may be able to support or at least put up an ad (used to work for one that brokered PAs and supported with DPs, not this one but like it).