The process of setting up the support worker has also proved distressing and problematic: to give a minute-by-minute account of why I “I had needed a support worker. It was like I was having to justify it. I understand why they need that, but the it’s way they speak to you about it. It makes you feel like doing something you’re wrong”. to get a support worker when only “It’s difficult you’re given a few hours not worth doing – it’s it.” There would also seem to be some discrepancy in the amount different support workers are paid some guidance – from Access to Work about rates would generally be welcomed. Recommendations for addressing issues around employment of support workers: that advisors must promote choice and flexibility in how the hours for a support worker are allocated; that guidance on salary / payments for support workers are made available.
The process of setting up the support worker has also proved distressing and problematic: “I had to give a minute-by-minute account of why I needed a support worker. It was like I was having to justify it. I understand why they need that, but it’s the way they speak to you about it. It makes you feel like you’re doing something wrong”. “It’s difficult to get a support worker when you’re only given a few hours – it’s not worth doing it.” There would also seem to be some discrepancy in the amount different support workers are paid – some guidance from Access to Work about rates would generally be welcomed. Recommendations for addressing issues around employment of support workers: that advisors must promote choice and flexibility in how the hours for a support worker are allocated; that guidance on salary / payments for support workers are made available.