Personal assistants
A Personal Assistant can be employed directly by the Carer or through an agency, depending on the arrangement.
Before approaching agencies, be clear about the kind of care you are looking for and when you need it. Check that they deal with private clients like yourself and can provide the kind of care you need. Although using an agency is usually more expensive than recruiting a paid care worker yourself, it can make managing care easier because the agency will -
- Take care of the paperwork (Disclosure and Barring Service checks)
- Deal with an employee’s tax and National Insurance
- Check references
- Provide a backup if an employee is ill or unsatisfactory
- Deal with auto-enrolment pension duties.
If you are thinking about employing a paid care worker directly, it is important to realise that you will be taking on the responsibilities of an employer, for example you would need to -
- Confirm your employees’ references
- Pay statutory sick pay if an employee is ill
- Pay maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Ensure that your employee’s tax and National Insurance are paid correctly
- Check that your employee has the right to work in the UK
- Take out insurance to cover any accidents an employee might have in your home
- Ensure that you comply with your auto-enrolment pension duties.
When recruiting we recommend you ensure you are confident of the following -
- The person you are employing has the right level of training to support the person you care for
- They have the right insurances to cover the care they are delivering
- They have an up-to-date DBS check in place to offer assurance around safeguarding
- You would also need to be familiar with law on disciplinary and grievance procedures, redundancy procedures and health and safety requirements. All of this may sound complicated, but there is help available to guide you through and it is a good idea to get advice before you start
It was suggested that we may benefit from a PA to enable my mum the opportunity to get out into the community whilst I was able to enjoy some free time from caring. I was a little hesitant at first, but I used the support available to recruit a PA and am now managing the employment side of things with the support of an agency. The PA has become a “friend” to mum, and she doesn’t see it as a service but as a chance to get out for a coffee or shopping. The time she has this support, my mind is at rest and I can focus on myself and my family. It makes a real difference to mine and her week!
Benefits of employing a Personal Assistant directly -
- More Control - The Carer has greater flexibility in choosing a Personal Assistant based on specific needs and preferences
- Stronger Relationship - Direct employment may develop a closer working relationship, building trust and communication
- Tailored Support - The Carer can tailor the assistant’s tasks to their exact requirements
Benefits of employing a Personal Assistant through an agency which can help you with recruitment and employing someone -
- Skills and Experince - Agencies have specialised knowledge and can complete background checks and vetting and can support in matching the right assistant to the Carer’s needs
- Reliability - Agencies can provide replacements or backup staff in case the personal assistant is unavailable
- Administrative Support - Agencies manage payroll, taxes, and other legal requirements, reducing administrative burden for the Carer
When recruiting we recommend you ensure you are confident of the following -
- The person you are employing has the right level of training to support the person you care for
- They have the right insurances to cover the care they are delivering
- They have an up-to-date DBS check in place to offer assurance around safeguarding
- You would also need to be familiar with law on disciplinary and grievance procedures, redundancy procedures and health and safety requirements. All of this may sound complicated, but there is help available to guide you through and it is a good idea to get advice before you start