Before your Personal Assistant starts

If you are an employer, for example you are or planning to employ a Personal Assistant then it is a legal requirement for you to have specific insurance in place.

Accidents can occur in various ways. For example, your Personal Assistant might trip or fall whilst working for you. In such instances, the Personal Assistant may attribute blame to you, the employer, and hold you accountable.

Your Personal Assistant might also conduct clinical / medical tasks and both of you need to feel safe in case a mistake arises.

Ensuring the appropriate insurance coverage is in place means that should there be a claim, it will be covered by the insurance policy and managed by the insurance provider.

The cost of the insurance premium is included in your Direct Payments, however it is the responsibility of the employer to make sure that premiums are paid on time.

Please click here to see the information sheet on insurance.  This information sheet seeks to address some frequently asked questions and aims to clarify legal requirements.  The information sheet also provides information on three insurance providers.

The Direct Payment Support Service can provide this information sheet in an alternative format upon request.

If your Personal Assistant is self employed, they are responsible for sourcing their own insurance.  Please also review the employment status section to see more information on the employment status of Personal Assistants.

Vehicle insurance

It is important you check with your vehicle insurance policy and/ or Motability scheme / private lease terms when allowing others to use your vehicle.

• Motability Scheme 'Your Drivers'

You must have an agreement, 'contract of employment', between you and your employees so that you are both clear about each other's responsibilities.

• Setting up a contract of employment
• Contract of employment template

A payroll service handles payroll calculations for you, including the tax and National Insurance contributions to deduct from your Personal Assistant’s (PA’s) pay, and the amount to pay them. They will register you as an employer and act as your agent with HMRC, as well as calculate any pension entitlement and provide guidance on pension payments.

Please click here for an information sheet on the importance of payroll as well as details of available providers.

The Direct Payment Support Service can provide this information sheet in an alternative format upon request.

You can arrange for all payroll calculations to be sent into your Virtual Wallet and the Virtual Wallet will make any necessary payments on your behalf, leaving you to relax in the knowledge that once set up, everything will be taken care of.

Whether you are hiring a Personal Assistant (PA) for the first time or seeking to clarify your existing arrangements, it is crucial to understand the distinctions between employed and self-employed statuses.

Please click here to view an information sheet outlining the necessary information and documentation to consider, helping you navigate legal responsibilities, tax obligations, and the rights of both parties.  The guidance provides detailed information to ensure compliance and effective management of your PA's employment status.

Misclassification can lead to significant financial penalties and legal consequences.

The Direct Payment Support Service invites you to contact the employer's helpline of your insurance provider for legal and personalised advice. 

The Direct Payment Support Service can provide this information sheet in an alternative format upon request.

Whether you need assistance with personal care, administrative tasks, or household duties, hiring a Personal Assistant can significantly enhance your quality of life.

The Direct Payment Support Service have produced an information sheet, please click here to view it.  The information sheet will guide you through every stage of the process, from identifying your needs and writing a job description to finding the right candidate and ensuring compliance with employment laws.

The information sheet also covers essential topics such as managing payroll, providing statutory rights, and maintaining a safe and supportive working environment for your Personal Assistant/s.

Please explore our other resources on the PA Finder to  make informed decisions and create a successful working relationship with your Personal Assistant.

The Direct Payment Support Service can provide this information sheet in an alternative format upon request.

As an employer, you have a legal duty to help your Personal Assistant save for retirement.

• Read more about providing a pension in the section 'Paying your personal assistant'.
• The Pensions Regulator - contact page

Redundancy is when you ask your personal assistant to leave, either because you do not need to employ them anymore or because you need to reduce the number of staff you have

• Information about redundancy
• Redundancy information from Acas

Your Personal Assistant is entitled to have maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave and pay

• Information about maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave

You have a legal responsibility to make sure that your Personal Assistant remains safe and healthy whist doing their job.

• Health and safety information including a downloadable checklist
• Health and safety executive
• Risk assessment template