Carer Rates

[Martin O Refurbisher]

BM
Do you find your carers directly or though a local agency?

One agency here charges £18 per hour - how does that compare with elsewhere?

Best,

Martin

[Burgerman]

Agencies send people you dont know, cant choose, and maybe do not even like.

I pay 6.80 per hour for daytime, 8.20 per hour for evenings, nights, weekends etc. Night sits for turning, if I am ill etc, 50 per night.

I employ one girl, and one guy.
Criteria...

a) I want total reliability from both, 24/7 on phone in case I need them. And they cover each others holidays.
b) Guy... needs DIY/gardening/powerchair building skills, no real care skills as I know all that must have car, must be able to take a joke, must be hard working... Fences need creosote, grass needs cutting, trees need trimming, lights and wiring, rescuing if it all goes wrong, houshold DIY, etc.
c) girl needs to be young, pretty, fit, single, confident, and capable. Not because I fancy them or want too but because I see them every day! Nothing worse than waking up to see some tatty old boiler looking at you! Single and no kids because then they are game for my late nights, drinking, going places, and they have no higher priorities. I currently have a 25 year old girl. But she is very hard working, genuine and helpful and super reliable. She was 19 when she started. She cleans, cooks, makes beds, valets my van inside, does shopping, etc.

Where do I get them? Almost all the girls are found working in and behind bars serving my beer. Seriously! They are already doing late hours, and I pay better and they dont work as hard...
I have had a Emma, Mandy, Kristen (who practically moved in), and one or two others. I now have a Jenny... They were all reliable and cheerful, and none were over 25.

The guys, were all care people that were working for agencies etc, but I put an ad in the local paper for carer/diy person... And there has been just two of them in 14 years. Looking for a 3rd today. Best candidate so far (amazingly) is an ex biker gang member, that is a doorman, who turned to satanism to keep out of trouble! Now hes a Christian... And basically nuts. Should be a laugh! But on a trial period.

Another option is to use an agency, find someone you get on with and steal them. Done that too.

[Anderida]

My local council doesn't provide 'domestic' help so they gave me a list of recommended agencies. After crossing off the agencies that only helped pensioners, African women, HIV patients, etc, I rang round the others and was quoted between £17.50 - £19.00/hr. This was just for cleaning, shopping etc, not personal care and was about 12 months ago. The fliers for domestic help that come through my door (usually from Polish cleaners) quote £8 - £10/hr.

Obviously, personal care costs more.

I had a basin full of agencies when my Nan was still alive. She lived in Eastbourne and I went through so many agencies trying to find one that would provide a decent, regular service without ripping us off.

The idea behind using an agency was because I lived so far away and was working f/t then so advertising/interviewing wasn't logistically possible. Also the agencies say staff are properly trained, monitored, there's automatic cover for holidays, etc.

All guff! Carer's failed to turn up, signed their own timesheets saying my Nan was too ill to sign herself - when I'd actually chatted to my Nan on the phone for over an hour while waiting for the carer to show- they didn't seem to have a thread of commonsense between them, their idea of clean would shame a vagrant and they basically just didn't care.

Eventually, a friend of a friend knew of a woman who needed a small p/t job to fit in with school hours. She turned out to be a treasure. My Dad paid her £10/hr happily (3 years ago).

BMs rates reflect his area - here in London you would have to offer a good deal more. That applies to the South Coast too because there are so many older people needing care that good carers are like hen's teeth.

BM: You're lucky - I doubt I would get any takers if I advertised for a young, fit, good-looking male carer! But I can dream!

[Burgerman]

OK... There are ALWAYS more men reply to adds. At least for the hi hours ones. Dont advertise for young fit, just cross off the ones that are not!!!

Agencies may charge 17 per hour (they do here too). But they PAY nearer minimum wage. So its easy to employ a carer directly. I cant afford to use agencies!!!

Try employing them directly, at my rates, and the phone will not stop ringing. I put one ad in on wednessday, and had over 55 calls. And one in 20 will be great. Interview carefully. Look for, car (clean!), lives close by, and the capabilities you need. Care experience isnt needed, because YOU know whats needed here.

Whats more you can keep all the better ones on file. Any problems and fire one and employ another! But so far I never had to do this. Theres a real fit attractive girl in cleethorpes, called hayley - 25, own car, looking for care work with experience. Very smart and keen. She cant do wednesdays, or I would have employed her. Her car was waxed and polished, she looked like a well maintained model, and insisted she could not only do care with experience, but pull my petrol mower to bits and rebuild it... She even trained and got a job as a fireman a couple of years ago! Then had 2 kids... Its amazing what you find.

[Anderida]

OMG, just the thought of interviewing guys has put a smile on my face.

If only I could afford even an hour or two. Unfortunately my benefits don't cover my outgoings by a long chalk. But that's another story.

Still think it would be difficult to get that sort of response here. I worked in local specialist hospital and we couldn't get carers for any wage f/t or p/t flexible hours.

Maybe it's a North / South thingy.

[Martin O Refurbisher]

I'll try advertising and see what I get - keep you posted.

Best,

Martin

[curiouscat]

BM, Do you mind telling me how many hours you get? I'm asking because I am about to go through the new 'enablement' assessment from the dreaded social services. Previously been doing everything myself which has caused my health to decline. I am after flexible care, on call if I need them or just fancy going out. Sounds like you have it. I can't get my social worker to stop singing the tune of 'you need to specify times' It's gotten to the point where I will have to move out if it's not sorted as I just can't work to a rigid schedule or manage without help.

Please share the wisdom.

[Burgerman]

I get 5 hours a day, to get me up, get me to bed, and a few other medical related issues. And I get 8 night sits/sleep overs or whatever you call them.

I dont actually use my hours in this way. But thats what I was allocated. I spent a year in bed with a pressure sore, and live alone. GF moved out. And have occasional relapses where I have to stay in bed and be turned every 4 hours etc... Was snowed in for a month last year with a wall of ice/snow 2 feet thick etc and not at all this year. So its flexible! I have a rigid pay per month, rigid hours, but actually no rigid work whenever I ask them staff...

[curiouscat]

Thanks for replying BM.I appreciate it. Hope your having a good year so far.

No wonder you build your own chairs if you get snowed in!

On a totally different topic...I'm not receiving notifications when people reply to posts I have subscribed to.

[Burgerman]

Works for others?

Either theres a spam filter stopping them somewhere or you added the wrong email address ??

[curiouscat]

they were working a week ago. I haven't changed anything in my email account.

[Lord Chatterley]

Where do you get most replies from - adverts in nursing mags or the free press or some other place?

LC

[Burgerman]

Seriously?

I chat to young fit barmaids in local pubs. They are obviously game for late hours, young so no dependents, working so obviously keen, and generally on less money... And they spend an hour cashing up/cleaning AFTER they are finished being paid...

I know all they need to know about care work. So they need only time keeping, and enthusiasm, live close, no kids/husbands to interfere with their responsibilities priority (myself!) etc.

Works well. Failing that in the local paper for 1 night usually gets about 75 calls!

[Lord Chatterley]

Try employing them directly, at my rates, and the phone will not stop ringing. I put one ad in on wednessday, and had over 55 calls. And one in 20 will be great. Interview carefully. Look for, car (clean!), lives close by, and the capabilities you need. Care experience isnt needed, because YOU know whats needed here.

Whats more you can keep all the better ones on file. Any problems and fire one and employ another! But so far I never had to do this. Theres a real fit attractive girl in cleethorpes, called hayley - 25, own car, looking for care work with experience. Very smart and keen. She cant do wednesdays, or I would have employed her. Her car was waxed and polished, she looked like a well maintained model, and insisted she could not only do care with experience, but pull my petrol mower to bits and rebuild it... She even trained and got a job as a fireman a couple of years ago! Then had 2 kids... Its amazing what you find.

BM do you still do this? I am getting to the stage where I need a couple of full time carers but I am not sure under which system to employ them.

LC

[Lord Chatterley]

"And I get 8 night sits/sleep overs or whatever you call them. "

Do you mean you pay for 8 hrs per night at £10 per hour every day?

LC

[Burgerman]

The LA stopped paying for carers at night a decade ago. So only day hours now. But yes I still do this. Not sure what you are asking?

Which systems are you refering to?

[Lord Chatterley]

The LA stopped paying for carers at night a decade ago. So only day hours now. But yes I still do this. Not sure what you are asking?

Which systems are you refering to?

So you have 2 carers paid for via PIP? Who pays/arranges the National Insurance etc.?

LC

[Burgerman]

PIP doesent enter into it. I have care needs asssessed by the LA, who then give me a sum of money based on their assessed need hours and pay per hour. I then use this to pay 1 or as many as I want, for hours that I decide at rates that I decide, overseen by a payroll agency. As long as it doesent exceed the money I get.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/direct-payments

[Lord Chatterley]

Thanks BM - how many hours and how much do you pay may I ask?

LC

[Burgerman]

I could tell you but then I would have to kill you. But surfice to say it varies. And enough to get me up, and get me back on my bed if I am getting up. And enough to turn me every 5 or so hours if I am stuck on my bed as I have been for a few years mostly. Pay? Fixed hourly rate and a little above minimum wage, but that depends on how many hours and what hours I need. So while some carers are temporary, covering holls etc, and are not expected to do as much, others have cars, get food etc, and help me do a ton of things. So not all get the same. Whatever it takes. Free market forces! For E.G. A carer that is more useful, and has car, and is flexible regarding hours, on the end of a phone whenever needed is more useful than someone that will do or can do only specific times and has no car etc. So it may be better to pay carer 1 more hourly, and use them for less hours and still get more done! As long as you dont run out of budget and can justify different pay rates then all good.

[Lord Chatterley]

Thanks BM - anyone else care to share their carer hours, rates, experiences, tips?

LC

[Burgerman]

You wont need to know any of that as the council assessement team will tell you the hours! And the rate that they pay. YOU can only vary that to suit yourself within those limits. And will need to show time sheets and payroll details yearly.

[wheelinghome]

PIP doesent enter into it. I have care needs asssessed by the LA, who then give me a sum of money based on their assessed need hours and pay per hour. I then use this to pay 1 or as many as I want, for hours that I decide at rates that I decide, overseen by a payroll agency. As long as it doesent exceed the money I get.

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/direct-payments

Just out of interest, why do you use a payroll agency? And, do you have to pay for their service out of your budget?

I looked at using one initially but I would have to pay the fees I out of my care budget and they had stuff like £25 to add a new employee onto the system, £10 for a payslip etc etc.

Instead, I use the HMRC Basic PAYE Tools application which is free if you have less than nine carers employed at any one time. Then I just do all the payroll, payslips et cetera on there. And then I send copies to the budget team who manage my package.

[Burgerman]

You can if you want.

[wheelie junkie]

Try employing them directly, at my rates, and the phone will not stop ringing. I put one ad in on wednessday, and had over 55 calls. And one in 20 will be great. Interview carefully. Look for, car (clean!), lives close by, and the capabilities you need. Care experience isnt needed, because YOU know whats needed here.

Whats more you can keep all the better ones on file. Any problems and fire one and employ another! But so far I never had to do this. Theres a real fit attractive girl in cleethorpes, called hayley - 25, own car, looking for care work with experience. Very smart and keen. She cant do wednesdays, or I would have employed her. Her car was waxed and polished, she looked like a well maintained model, and insisted she could not only do care with experience, but pull my petrol mower to bits and rebuild it... She even trained and got a job as a fireman a couple of years ago! Then had 2 kids... Its amazing what you find.

BM do you still do this? I am getting to the stage where I need a couple of full time carers but I am not sure under which system to employ them.

LC

Is the help needed health or social need? If it is a health need you may consider Continuing Health Care, complicated assessment procedure covering many domains but if you qualify you can do a Personal Health Budget where you employ the carers or let a care agency manage the package. I'm C3 complete and vented and qualify for 33 hours care per day, have an agency managing it and carers get from £10ph upwards, due for review in a couple of months as it isn't enough to get good staff given the responsibility they have knowing how to keep me alive if a vent fails or disconnects.

[Lord Chatterley]

OMG, just the thought of interviewing guys has put a smile on my face.

If only I could afford even an hour or two. Unfortunately my benefits don't cover my outgoings by a long chalk. But that's another story.

Still think it would be difficult to get that sort of response here. I worked in local specialist hospital and we couldn't get carers for any wage f/t or p/t flexible hours.

Maybe it's a North / South thingy.

BM says it doesn't come out of your benefits - it's a completely separate system -you get assessed by a social worker who then allocates so many hours taking into account your needs and "quality of life" etc..

LC

[Lord Chatterley]

Personal assistants get more money, I gather.
LC

[Burgerman]

P.A. 8.50 here.

[wheelie junkie]

Supply and demand and free market economy. We advertise at £10ph and get no response, we're going to have to increase to around £12ph to attract anyone. Low unemployment area and a big demand for support staff. Move 60 miles across the country and £8.50 would be enough. You have to pay the rate for your local area but CCG and social services just want to pay a basic rate and rarely take into account the actual rate needed to get staff. I'll be fighting for more as my annual review is due this month.

[Burgerman]

You have to pay the rate for your local area but CCG and social services just want to pay a basic rate and rarely take into account the actual rate needed to get staff. I'll be fighting for more as my annual review is due this month.

Because government and NHS in particular, is socialistic. It is a distortion of the free market in goods, trade, labour, wages etc. Which obviously will never work.