Isn't it always? I still don't see that this is any different to Direct Payments though. Unless there's going to be less oversight of this. And that doesn't sound like a good thing. For Direct Payments you (or someone) has to be the employer, making sure that you pay appropriate taxes and have appropriate insurance etc. etc. I can't believe that this option wouldn't require people to do the same thing. But it sounds like it's not an "option" at all - if you're eligible that's how it will be done, no choice at all. Now I'm reasonably well-educated, but I would think twice about becoming an employer in this situation. I think most people will end up with agency staff anyway, simply because of that. If there's less oversight, where does that leave the vulnerable elderly?