Getting the right support: Mr and Mrs Lennox’s Story

Mr Lennox cares for his wife, who lives with dementia. At the time he contacted GCIL’s Take Control office, she had a small support package: 3.5 hours of personal care each week and two days at a local day centre.

But the personal care wasn’t working well. Carers often arrived late — sometimes after Mrs Lennox had already left for the day centre. That meant Mr Lennox had to step in to help with washing and dressing, adding stress to his daily routine.

He had also started a carer’s assessment and wanted to understand what other support might be available to him.

Exploring options

Through a phone call with a Development Worker at Take Control, Mr Lennox learned about the four Self-directed Support (SDS) options.

He decided to keep the two days at the day centre under Option 3 (arranged services) because the structured social time was important for his wife’s wellbeing.

However, he wanted to make changes to the personal care element, which was also arranged through Option 3. He decided to take a direct payment (Option 1) instead, so he could recruit a Personal Assistant (PA) and have more control over the care provided. He also planned to use a direct payment for any carer support he was eligible for.

Becoming a PA employer

Take Control supported Mr Lennox through the process of becoming a PA employer. He received detailed guidance on:

  • safe recruitment

  • working with a payroll provider

  • writing an employment contract

  • insurance requirements

  • PVG Scheme checks

  • employer responsibilities

He was also given information on how Take Control could continue to support him throughout the process.

Increased support, more control

When Mr Lennox contacted the Care at Home team to request a budget transfer to Option 1, Mrs Lennox was reassessed. She was now eligible for 21 hours of personal care per week, and Mr Lennox was approved for 6 hours of carer support per week.

This gave them a total direct payment of 27 hours per week.

Mr Lennox attended PA Employer Training delivered by GCIL and Take Control, which helped him prepare for the next stage.

The case has now been passed to an Independent Living Adviser, who will support Mr Lennox as he begins recruiting a Personal Assistant to help care for his wife.

This is a real story, but names have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.