Employing a personal assistant
One of the many benefits of having a personal budget paid to you as a direct payment, is being able to use a personal assistant (PA for short). A PA is a person paid by you to help you live more independently.
There are two ways to get a PA, either employing someone privately or paying an agency to provide someone. Your social worker or care co-ordinator will give you advice about this.
Employing someone privately
It is important to remember that you are not choosing a best friend but someone to do a job.
- to employ a PA you advertise for; interview and choose someone who suits you
- you are also responsible for the administrative and legal responsibilities including managing your PA's pay and arranging the appropriate insurance before they start working for you
- your social worker will be able to explain this in full. They can also provide you with some further information to help you understand this process.
- for information about finding a PA please see the Livewell website.
Paying an agency to provide someone
- you will pay an agency to find you a PA and pay their wages, tax and national insurance
- you will have less choice about your PA as you will not be able to interview them
- the agency may not be able to provide the same person each time
- employing someone through an agency also costs more