Costs of relief care

Hi readers, Kerry here, talking about what’s been circling around in my head after working with a personal assistant week.

With the care, if I’m honest I was nervous at first. The agency sent a man, which I thought may be tricky for me. Thankfully he was experienced, very nice and I enjoyed working with him. So that part was fine.

What wasn’t fine is the cost. I felt sick when I discovered agencies, who are paid from people’s health/social care budgets (yes, taxpayers money) often charge more than double the cost of my regular PA’s. I understand agencies have extra costs but this feels excessive.

So, I’m wanting to know about profits businesses make from the care sector. Apparently there’s around £1.5billion each year of returns to shareholders and investors in the care home sector. Meanwhile health and social care services are struggling and underfunded. That’s messed up!

The saddest part? Care and agency workers are undervalued, underpaid, and often don’t get enough good training. So the quality of care can vary, often not the worker’s fault.  

Here’s my question to providers: if you run a care home or agency, and make a good profit, can you honestly reassure me that every worker you employ has the right skills, outlook, and qualifications for each job they are given? My question to government:  how do you meaningfully regulate good care – and profits – in these businesses. Can you be confident they are transparent?  

If you can both genuinely answer yes, and prove it, we will a LOT closer to a country where genuine benefit-deserving people thrive; where we’ve weeded out the scroungers; and there’s an end to the horror stories we hear almost daily.

Next week Emily’s back. We will share how our Bournemouth trip went, to check out the new Suttles Big Night Out nightclub venue!

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff