Adult social care

Find and employ a personal assistant (PA)

 

As you make your own arrangements to hire a personal assistant, you'll be their employer. When you've recruited and employed your PA, you'll also be in charge of managing any employment-related tasks.

When your PA starts working for you, you’ll agree their terms and conditions of work. This can be things such as the hours you want them to work and the tasks you need them to do.

PAs can be paid for using a direct payment from a local authority, a personal health budget from the NHS, or your own money. The council isn't the PA's employer; this is the person who's managing the personal budget.

Insurance

Before you employ someone, you legally need to have employers’ liability insurance. This is protection to cover potential legal costs and compensation, should the need ever arise.

The cost of the employers’ liability insurance premium is included in your personal budget. Your insurance policy will give you access to 24 hour support, and advice to help you with hiring a PA.

More information

For more advice about employing a PA, see our employer leaflet or visit the Skills for Care website.

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