Employing someone?

This is when these threads become so useful. I hadn't heard that MissA. I am thinking how it would be done. The carer would have to be caring for 35 hours a week wouldn't they and I presume (?) would have to claim themselves. The person could then pay them up to £116 a week. They wouldn't get it if they were claiming the state pension but then I doubt they would be. You get an NI credit if you claim carers allowance too. I think the cared for person might loose some of their disability allowance though.

However, complicated though that sounds, if you needed to employ someone pretty much full time it is £62.70 a week that you would not have to find.

I have seen a good few adverts, on mainstream sites for a carer. Then when you look for details, its made clear that you would be claiming 'carers allowance' for the person.
Seems strange, but I suppose its quite a workable and legal solution.

Keep with the agency and try and have a quiet word with carers about topics they discuss with your mum. Have the same problem with my daughter, I tell her something and then she checks it out with carers who have not idea of the topic or situation. I am just about to tell my daughter that I will no longer act as POA (she has limited capacity) if she carries on this way. Also if she employed her carers she would have all sorts of things to do, pension, holiday pay and cover, contract of employment just to name of few. Suggest to her that she could always tip the carers or give them a present of money at Christmas.

We used agency staff for my FiL, but they never really developed a relationship with him and they never used common sense. They’d put washing in the machine, but forgot to tell next person. They could never get him to shower!
We then found a mother and daughter who lived locally and they were lovely with him, treated him like a daughter and grand daughter would. They were also flexible and we could contact them directly if there were any concerns. He was really comfortable and happy with them.

They are here too aggie.

I haven't come across that sort of set-up but it bodes well for any attempt to join Care with the NHS, which seems so obvious to me but doesn't seem to have done so for successive governments. If there are some areas doing this then they will have something to look at if they do consider it.

I have an advert now, inviting me to 'open a care agency'!

i forgot cover for annual leave.

My mum had the 6 weeks reablement, but the timings were ridiculous, and the women lacked empathy, really.
The agency women were much nicer (mostly) but didn't seem to have much idea what they were doing.

As others have pointed out there are costs in employing people. All the ones as an employer, including criminal checks, plus training for staff plus providing staff to cover sickness of a staff member. Your mother cannot do that. These overheads and others are the cost that makes the difference between what your mother would pay them and what she actually pays the agency. You should stick with the agency.

At the start I thought we had the carers too much but am glad I didn't say anything , we really need them now

I have carers coming in to my H once a day at present, I could have more visits and started off with 2 but the evening call was too late and my H was ready for bed long before then.
We are on week 5 of 6 which are free and provided by SS
After this we will pay and SS will find me an agency or I can find my own.
I think It is approx £17:50 to £20 an hour.
I do not need an hour so will try to cope if I can,the minimum visit is an hour with the agency I prefer.

That sounds an excellent arrangement.
Its obviously not rolled out countrywide. What a pity.

No it wasn't neccessary , I apologise things are a bit awry here at the moment

The Carers have been coming for the last two years , maybe more , my memory ain't the best , he was mobile when they started but is now immobile . There are six girls on a Rota , some are better than others but all range from competent to excellent , they are employed by the local Hospital Trust not an agency . One agency girl told us the Agency charged the NHS £19 an hour and she got £7 ! So it is no wonder they try to get extra

... maybe GracesGran you should get out more.

Just seen that aggie. Was it really necessary? We are all dealing with complex situations and I had not come across carers direct from the NHS. As the care system is run by the Local Authority it would be good to hear of schemes that tie the NHS and Care together.

We do have a system of emergency care Aggie and I wonder if it works a bit like that? These things do seem to differ from Trust to Trust and LA to LA.

My mother has had this several times; once on leaving hospital and at other times in order to keep her out of hospital. It is for a maximum of six weeks and is free to anyone for whom the doctors request it, as the money comes from the NHS. The carers, however, still come from local care companies and are actually contracted to the local authority. The last time - at the beginning of December - although the doctors requested it after two falls in four days, we simply did not get this as there were not enough carers available because care companies in this area will not work for the amount set by the local authority. We covered the period (with difficulty) but it did lead to the local authority agreeing to permanent extra care which we now have and which is marvellous. And, although obviously short of money, the LA have been very helpful too.

You really couldn't make up a more complex system could you?

Granny23

I tbink you're treading in deep water there.
Not a good idea.
Carers talk and it might get back to the agency via those who hear and are jealous. The carers might then be interviewed about accepting monetry gifts.
That's one of the reasons why SS don't let any one carer get too cosy with clients. They rotate carers so that doesn't happen and you cannot specify which carer you want.

Widgeon, if you are self employed , you must have more than 1 client, if you are working for just one person then you are classed as being employed by that person and they have to fulfill all the obligations of an employer.
If your cleaner has several clients then she is responsible for her own Income Tax etc. But you really should get a receipt from her when you hand over her pay, she should also invoice you for her work.

Ah, maybe that's the difference then.. it sounds as if your husband is getting a good care package, though.

They were sent when we finally extricated him from a Nursing Home

The nhs carers come in four times a day to get OH out of bed washed and dressed , toiletries during the day and returned to bed , the agency ones just st with him so I can go to art class , shopping , breathe . I am maybe not giving them their correct title ? I can assure you they are extremely caring ,maybe GracesGran you should get out more

Me neither.
My mums carers which were sorted out when she came from hospital were an agency. (not a particularly good one, either)

I'd get her to sign and date in a receipt book for the money you hand over.
These people may be getting benefits and cleaners can often earn £10ph which should be declared.

Carers from the NHS? I didn't know there was such a being.

NB. For the avoidance of doubt, the carer specifically mentioned in my post was a meticulous worker and I worked with her on many occasions, however, our principals did not pay her the rate I was paid nor did they pay holiday entitlements or double rates on Sundays but there was nothing she could do about it.
Being under the radar isn't a good thing.