We're keen to keen to hear from anyone eligible for a social care service who may be interested in employing a direct payment carer.
Also, from any family members or friends who would like to get involved in providing their support.
Direct payments are available as part of Self Directed Support (SDS).
Individuals are allocated a budget which they can then use to make their own arrangements for the delivery of their care, including employing their own carer. This is ideal for anyone who would like more flexibility, choice and control over their support so that they can continue to live independently at home.
The appeal for more people to take up the option of employing or becoming a direct payment carer is being made at a time of significant challenge in the provision of social care due to a lack of staffing, challenges with recruitment and an unprecedented increase in demand for care, both in terms of quantity and complexity.
We're working extremely hard to address these challenges with a range of measures being explored to ensure high quality care and support services continue to be delivered. This includes reaching out to existing service users who have not already taken up the direct payment option to ask if they have any family members, neighbours or friends who would be interested in providing care, with direct payments being an option that would enable this to be done on a formal, paid basis.
Councillor David Parker, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing
“We fully appreciate and give our deepest thanks to those family carers and wider networks who already provide support to those who need assistance to remain at home, often in an unpaid, voluntary capacity.
“However, due to a range of pressures we know are being experienced at a national level by other local authority and private providers, our services remain extremely stretched and we are making this appeal just in case there are additional service users and family members for whom direct payments may be of interest.
“Direct payments are discussed as an option when every care package is being set up initially, including when people are being discharged from hospital, so there are a wide range of people who have already taken up the offer and are experiencing the benefits.
“They really can be a great way to have more flexibility and choice over your own care and support and how it's arranged and paid for. It can also provide additional peace of mind for family carers to have more involvement in who is providing care to their loved one. Another advantage is the opportunity to bring in some extra income, something that’s a particular concern for many at the moment.
“We appreciate that direct payments aren't suitable for everyone, but we also know that people’s circumstances change so this is a chance for people to reconsider, just in case it’s an arrangement that would now suit them better.”
Find out more about direct payments
- More information about becoming a direct payment carer is available on the Self Directed Support pages of our website.
- If you would like to explore the direct payment option, please speak to the named person who is co-ordinating your care package.
- If you have recently received a letter from us about direct payments, you can also phone 0300 100 1800 (Option 6) to speak to a Customer Services Advisor. Alternatively, you can fill out our online enquiry form and we will get back to you once we receive your query.
Other opportunities available in Adult Social Care
As well as the appeal for direct payment carers, we have a number of other opportunities available across our homecare, residential care and learning disability day support services. Excellent terms and conditions are available including:
- comprehensive training
- a starting salary of over £11.59 per hour
- up to 33 days annual leave
- membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
- a wide-ranging staff benefits package.
Councillor Parker added: “Our social care staff cannot be commended or thanked enough for all their hard work and commitment. Every day they provide a vital service right across the Borders, caring for some of the most vulnerable in our communities. If you would like to be part of a team that makes a genuine difference to people’s lives, with all the rewards that come with being part of such an important profession, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more.”
For more information, visit the working for us pages of our website.