Nursing and paramedic students – the quintessential support for Jimmy

Busy mum of three, Sarah Jones says she and her husband can’t thank Carer Solutions enough for creating a service that gives them the power to directly employ support workers for their son Jimmy.

Sarah’s second child Jimmy, 15 was born with Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes mild to severe intellectual disability.

Sarah explains how everything just clicked when she learnt about Carer Solutions and their unique Direct Employ service. It is the only service in Australia that enables her to employ support workers who fit in with Jimmy and their family.

One of Jimmy’s support workers Eloise, whom Jimmy refers to as ‘Nanny Elle’ has known the family for over 14 years, as her brother and Jimmy went to the same specialist school in their home town of Ballarat.

Sarah says it made perfect sense to approach Elle and see whether she would be interested in becoming one of Jimmy’s support workers.

“Carer Solutions is so wonderful for us and our family, because it allows us to find and employ our own support workers. Support workers that we have a beautiful connection with and that we are happy to come into our home.”

Sarah says that not only does Carer Solutions give them the freedom and independence to employee support workers who they trust sand who Jimmy has a rapport with, but without all the time-consuming employer obligations.

“Carer Solutions does all the rest, they do all the paperwork and everything that needs to be, I don’t need to worry about it.”

Sarah loves how all that she needs to do is approve her support workers timesheets and Carer Solutions does everything else. Even if she forgets to approve her timesheets, the Carer Solutions team send her a friendly reminder.

They even take care of onboarding all of Jimmy’s support workers – ensuring all the compliance documents are received and they take care of the employer obligation such as payroll, superannuation and insurances.

“Looking forward, I know that we will eventually lose Nanny Elle as she will graduate university soon, but I have already connected with a new gorgeous support workers. All I have to do is pass their details on to the Carer Solutions team, and they will do everything that is needed to onboard her as Jimmy’s support worker!”