Information for Employers

Take a look at our useful links page for further information and guidance, such as

• Recruiting a PA (interviewing tips, checks and references)
• Things to do before you PA starts (including payroll and insurance)
• How to manage and develop your PA
• Sorting out any problems (including safeguarding and abuse)

A Personal Assistant can provide you with support for a wide range of tasks such as: 

• Going to activities or on days out
• Help with work or education 
• Using transport and getting out and about 
• Personal care 
• Making meals 
• Domestic help around the house 

There are lots of benefits to having your own Personal Assistant in Care. You will have more choice and control over how your support needs are met. You get to decide who to employ, you can find someone you have a good connection with, or enjoys similar interests to you. You can decide how many Personal Assistants you need, what tasks they can support you with and the days and times that work for you.  

You can find more information about the benefits of employing a Personal Assistant from Disability Rights UK. 

You may be receiving a Personal Health Budget from the NHS which could be used to employ a Personal Assistant in Care. 

If you have been assessed as being eligible to receive care which is funded by your local authority, you can choose to receive Direct Payments. You can use your Direct Payments to employ a Personal Assistant in Care. 

If you do not want to be assessed by your local authority, or you are not eligible for funding, you can pay for a Personal Assistant in Care privately. 

If you decide to recruit a Personal Assistant, you become an employer and it is very important that you understand all of the legal, financial and practical issues that this involves.  

If you are employing a Personal Assistant for the first time, the amount of information may seem daunting. Skills for Care have developed an Employing PA Toolkit with all the information you need to guide you through the process. 

There are sections on: 

• Recruiting a Personal Assistant with information on how to write a job description, carry out an interview and doing the right checks on your Personal Assistant. 
• Carrying out pre-employment steps such as the contract of employment, redundancy pay, maternity, paternity pay and adoption rights, information about health and safety and insurance. 
• Managing and developing your Personal Assistant including their induction and supervision, how to be a good employer and ensuring your Personal Assistant has access to training and qualifications for their own development.  
• Templates that you can use to employ and manage your Personal Assistant.  

The information on these webpages is also available in Easy Read.  

You can find more information about employing a Personal Assistant from Scope.  

There are further useful links available for employers.

Before signing up to the website, please read the website’s terms and conditions.

To take a look at the Personal Assistants listed on the website, you’ll need to sign up as an employer. Enter your details into the form to set up your profile and begin your search.  

The website is free to use – there are no sign-up or ongoing fees to advertise any positions you have. 

Take a look at our useful links page for further information and guidance  

You’ll spend a lot of time with your Personal Assistant, so communication is really important. Giving feedback and managing issues as they come up will mean you can maintain a good relationship that works for both of you. 

Scope has information about how to manage problems with your Personal Assistant, including giving feedback, tips on how to have a good working relationship with your Personal Assistant, and how to dismiss your Personal Assistant if things aren’t working. 

Skills for Care also has information about how to manage problems. 

Abuse or neglect is never acceptable from anyone. People who have care and support needs must be able to trust and depend on the people who support them. Some abuse is a criminal offence and should be reported to the police as soon as possible.

If you are concerned that you or another adult is being neglected, harmed, or abused in any way, please do not ignore it. Any suspicion of abuse or neglect should be reported.

Hampshire - Report a safeguarding concern to Hampshire County Council 

Southampton - Report a safeguarding concern to Southampton City Council 

Abuse can happen anywhere and can be carried out by anyone. This could be family, friends, neighbours, paid staff, carers or volunteers. It could also be other service users, tenants or strangers. Abuse may be a single act or repeated.   If you think you are being abused, you should tell someone immediately. This could be a trusted friend, your doctor, the police.  

What is abuse - information from Hampshire Safeguarding Adults Board.