The money for the care would come from
DIRECT PAYMENTS; a scheme whereby Social Services directly pay an amount for
care and the “client” can employ privately. A Place has estimated
that the combined care hours for the household would be 70hrs per week; allowing
2 x 5 hour shifts each day shared between 2 live-in carers. Salary, National
Insurance, room, board, as well as holiday costs, could all be met!
For every hour a carer works £1 is set aside for
a Support worker. A Place does not imagine just one ME House but 3-6 so
that the combined fund could employ this worker to support those Households
solely. A fulltime employee for MESS uk!
Potentially
MESS uk, as experts in the field of ME Accommodation and Care, can benefit
the wider ME community. For example ME FRIENDLY RESPITE CARE: with ME-experienced
carers respite care could be provided either by extra rooms in the household,
for those able to travel, but also by CARERS BREAKS where MESS carers
would live-in bed-bound patients’ homes giving their carer well-earned
rests. (Direct payment's holiday component would fund this)
