Employing personal assistants toolkit
What is good about employing your own personal assistant
EasyRead version
1
This is a set of EasyRead booklets all about employing your own personal assistants. Some of the difficult or new words are in bold, when we do this we also say what the words mean.
A personal assistant (PA) is someone you pay to help you live more independently. They can support you with everyday things like shopping, leisure, washing and personal care.
Having a personal assistant gives you more choice over your support: n
you choose who supports you
n
they work for you
n
you decide what you want them to do
n
you decide which days and times they work.
1
You become an employer when you pay someone to work for you and this can seem complicated.
This toolkit will tell you about all the different things you need to think about: n
what happens when someone works for you
n
things employers have to do
n
how to stick to the law about being an employer.
2
Other ways to get information and help: n
talk to someone who already pays a personal assistant
n
join the Being the Boss website
www.beingtheboss.co.uk It costs ÂŁ10 to join (ÂŁ3 if you do not have a job) and there is lots of information from other disabled people who have personal assistants.
n
look at the Skills for Care website.
www.skillsforcare.org.uk/employingpas There are lots of forms and letters that you can use.
3
If you would like this toolkit in a different format please contact Skills for Care:
Email: marketing@skillsforcare.org.uk
Telephone: 0113 245 1716
Skills for Care West Gate 6 Grace Street Leeds LS1 2RP Email: info@skillsforcare.org.uk
Credits This paper has been designed and produced for Skills for Care by the EasyRead service at Inspired Services Publishing Ltd. Ref ISL 281/12. January 2013. 4