, Nikki Fox discusses Baroness Campbell's fear with Anna and Katy who are experiencing their own PA challenges.
The latter gives the individual more control over who cares for them and the jobs they do, but it also turns them into an employer with all the legal and practical issues that involves, including recruitment. But it has knock on effects for personal care and wellbeing too with Anna saying she can only shower once a week currently without support from a PA because she doesn't have the energy to do more for herself.
Anna believes something has happened to the market and availability of people who want or value this kind of job. In 2021, the government's Migration Advisory Committee recommended care workers were added to the occupation shortage list. But as individuals are unable to sponsor workers for a visa, only organisations can, this isn't a quick fix either.
The job requires a particular kind of person. It can feel as though you're living someone else's life and so the career span can be quite short. Europeans would often choose to do it to learn English whilst also getting paid. In July, the LGA recommended the budgets should take local market conditions into consideration rather than only offering the minimum wage of £9.50 an hour to a PA, to alleviate this kind of problem.