How to find a carer

In recent years, physically disabled people have benefited from less discrimination and more rights in their daily life. Changes within industries such as health, education and employment have improved greatly allowing those with physical disabilities more access to their services.

Despite this, there are still some disabled people in the UK, who are unable to take full advantage of the improved services, which is where services come in.

There are many advantages to employing a professional carer, they can help you with a range of tasks including cooking and cleaning, helping with personal care such as washing and using the toilet or more complex medical tasks like giving injections or changing a catheter.

You may feel you simply need assistance with small, mundane tasks such as shopping, banking and paying bills, if this is the case you are sure to find a carer able to help, as supporting independenceis what many carers aim to do.

There are three ways to get a professional carer. If you contact your local social services department, they will conduct a health and social care assessment, where your needs will be discussed. Once the right support is agreed everything is arranged for you and a carer is provided for you by them.

You can ask a care agency to find you a suitable care worker. You will have to pay the agency, but as you are not the carer's direct employer you do not have to take on any responsibilities, as the carer works for the agency.

You may prefer to employ a carer directly, this option gives you more choice and control over who cares for you and the tasks they do. However, as the carer's employer you are responsible for legal side of things, including dealing with tax and insurance, your local authority can help with the paperwork if you need it.