Like Wading through Treacle

A man has said he sourced carers for his parents on Facebook after they were left with no council support package.

Johnathan Callwood's mum and dad live in Church Stretton, Shropshire and need help washing, dressing and preparing food. Mr Callwood said problems began in November when a private company caring for his parents on behalf of Shropshire Council said it could no longer fulfil the package agreed by the authority.

When the council struggled to source a replacement, he said, he posted an emotional plea on Facebook and found two carers. But they have since been unable to continue their roles due to personal circumstances, leaving Mr Callwood's parents without care.

He said the family had spent about £11k following the cessation of the support package and were owed the sum in direct payments from the council.

He added that he set up a limited company to sort the finances to help his parents avoid the stress of "having to pay their own employees", but had run into problems securing reimbursement when the council told him it was unable to pay the company as it was not registered with them or the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Mr Callwood, who said he was in the process of CQC registration but compared the experience to "wading through treacle," when all he wanted to do was care for his parents.

Source BBC