Petition To give carers the option of taking the 'council assessed budget' as a paid salary instead of buying in care.

I would like the government to consider the possibility of offering a salary to main carers of families where there is a disabled person, particularly adults. At the moment especially in adult services the government carries out an assessment of need and awards a budget of which care is then paid for, usually at expensive rates e.g hourly rate through direct payment is at least £7.65 & the cost of 1 overnight in council run respite is £210 meanwhile the main family carer is awarded £59.75 per week benefit for the majority of hours of care undertaken. The main carer is usually then caught in a benefit trap where employers are reluctant to employ them due to caring duties, we are not protected by law caring for adults past the age of 18 & more often than not are 'let down' by our councils with lapses in care plans which result with the responsibility of care falling back on to us.