I begrudge how much it costs to take my support staff on holiday with me.

williewonder

I do really like the company though. I went to Turkey with one of my support workers in April for 10 days and it cost a lot. over 5.5k. That is staff hours for the 10 days and the holiday cost plus spending money for us both. It was a good holiday but I thought my staff was rude always criticising the buffet breakfast every morning as they didn't have English food. I thought the buffet breakfast was nice, and she moaned if I was enjoying a few pints in a bar. She didn't like sitting around. But apart from that it was good, The food is nice in Dalyan.

I'm seriously thinking about going on my own next time, I do like the company though and going with somebody, I'm able to travel on my own, I'm on benefits so can only go for 28 days at a time plus I have to be back for a antipsychotic injection anyway.

I'm worried about if I'd get into trouble with the benefits people if I went somewhere on my own?

I have a serious psychotic disorder and mild learning disability. My community nurse says I'm not doing anything wrong to enjoy a holiday plus he says I have a chronic illness which is well documented, plus I have a deputyship too and he says I have enough money. I also live in supported living. I feel bad for wanting to go on holiday as I don't want to get into trouble. 

Kim_13

Go with a friend or relative instead? That way you are likely to have mutual interests/agree a your interest one day, theirs the next type arrangement, where each of you would be paying for yourself. And you wouldn’t be alone, where you’d be more likely to run into difficulty. 

I’m not surprised you begrudge paying it - spending money for the support staff? They are working, so you should not be paying for anything other than their flights, accommodation (which are necessary to do their job) and daily/hourly rate. Nor should they expect the itinerary to be to their liking; they’re not on holiday, you are. Few employers would give their employees free food (subsidised perhaps in some cases) so I would not be paying out for their food only for them to moan about it because it isn’t to their taste. They would have to cater for themselves at home so let them go and find English food if they want it while you enjoy sitting in the sun/a few pints or anything else that they didn’t enjoy. If they want souvenirs or whatever it may be, they should pay for it out of their own money rather than being given spending money.

elsien

You have travelled abroad to places on your own before, and have also asked the benefits questions before.
i do query the motives behind some of your posts at times? 

@K@Kim_13  I don’t think anyone mentioned the staff being given spending money, did they? 

I have done trips abroad as a support worker in the past and I would expect meals and trips to be included up to a certain amount but  would pay any extras. People say you would be eating anyway but that is misleading, 

I do not eat out every day at home, I budget carefully and although you are working while away it can cost a lot more of your own money that if you were staying at home. Restaurant meals vs yellow sticker food, for example. If meals (up to x pound)  and trips weren’t paid for I would not agree to support someone - these may not be activities  I would choose to do on my own holiday so would not be paying to do them purely to benefit someone else. 

williewonder

elsien said:

You have travelled abroad to places on your own before, and have also asked the benefits questions before.
i do query the motives behind some of your posts at times? 

I do have anxiety about getting into trouble for travelling on my own.

comeandgo

elsien said:

You have travelled abroad to places on your own before, and have also asked the benefits questions before.
i do query the motives behind some of your posts at times? 

@K@Kim_13  I don’t think anyone mentioned the staff being given spending money, did they? 

I have done trips abroad as a support worker in the past and I would expect meals and trips to be included up to a certain amount but  would pay any extras. People say tiu would be eating anyway but that is misleading, 

I do not eat out every day, I budget carefully and although you are working while away it can cost more of your own money that if you were staying at home. Restaurant meals vs yellow sticker food, for example. If meals and trips weren’t paid for I would not agree to support someone - these may not be activities  I would choose to do on my own holiday so would not be paying to do them purely to benefit someone else. 

Good reply elsien, I was a bit raging when I read @ Kim13’s reply, support workers are not on holiday, though I would never complain when in clients company.

williewonder

If I could afford it I would take my support staff with me on every holiday. I'm not complaining about getting them food, that was apart of my budget. We did have a good time but it wasn't really a person centred holiday as I couldn't do what I wanted and that is too have a few beers and socialise with the other people in the bars, One thing is if I spent to long in a bar, more then 40 minutes she would leave me there and do her souvenir shopping or get me to go with her. I think it'll be better if I went with a male staff next time.

Hoenir

williewonder said:

elsien said:

You have travelled abroad to places on your own before, and have also asked the benefits questions before.
i do query the motives behind some of your posts at times? 

I do have anxiety about getting into trouble for travelling on my own.

Then give consideration to your support staff and include them in your plans.  Lots of people have likes and dislikes when it comes to food. That way the whole experience will be enjoyable.

williewonder

I'm just going to spend 13 days in Bali then fly to Bangkok and spend 9 days there, thats still 2k cheaper then going for 10 days with staff to Turkey and I don't have to compromise. 

HillStreetBlues

What is the role of your support worker while away?

williewonder

HillStreetBlues said:

What is the role of your support worker while away?

Just for company.

Muttleythefrog

It does sound expensive... and they don't sound like ideal company. I have a friend who regularly goes to that locality in Turkey. Ideally you'd have a friend you could go abroad with... someone more casually arranged who you know would appreciate the break and be more supportive. But it really is hard to advise as outsiders to this. If you do fear holidaying alone due to what could happen then perhaps more local holidays.. living in Cornwall I'm a bit biased but the UK has something for pretty much everyone... plus of course no month restriction!