Personal Assistants at Home: Empowering Independent PAs and Creating Local Employment
"Personal Assistants at Home" is a national scheme promoted by Action for People CIC and is committed to empowering independent Personal Assistants (PAs) who provide both domestic support and non-regulated care to people who require assistance to live independently. The scheme fosters local employment opportunities through comprehensive training and support for those who are not yet working as PAs. We facilitate through our partner organisation, Personal Assistants at Home Ltd, training for PAs so that they can design and create a service to offer clients. For established independent PA, the scheme offers unparalleled support. One of the main advantages to becoming a network member is that to join the scheme a PA is required to have an enhanced DBS check and also background checking of any references and their insurances. Action for People inconjunction with personal Assistants at Home Ltd can then provide independent assurance to prospective clients that a PA has been robustly background checked.
PAs who become members of the scheme are provided with an electronic ID card with a QR code, that can be shown to potential clients to scan and the client will immediately be able to view a confirmation that the PA is a network Member of Personal Assistants at Home and is fully background checked. The card is electronic and can be added to iOS or Google Wallets for easy use and access.
PA Membership Network: The National Support System for PAs. The innovative PA Membership Network provides a self-sustaining national directory of verified Personal Assistants, built on the acclaimed ‘Support with Confidence’ model that was originally launched by Trading standards Ltd. During the COVID-19 pandemic Action for People offered essential remote support to PAs, In 2023 Personal Assistants at Home Ltd was launched to provide a membership network for PAs and this has been meticulously refined over the past two years.
- There is a job portal access that advertises the local jobs
- · Comprehensive background checks including DBS
- · Rigorous training including GDPR compliance
- · Access to downloadable policies and forms
- A 9-5 support line for PAs Monday to Friday.
- Lone working support for PAs
- Thousands of Member perks estimated to save members £2,260 per annum
- Assistance for small, limited company set up
- Access to 130+ fully accredited CPD standard courses.
Inclusive Support for All PAs The scheme supports all PAs—whether self-employed, employed, or operating their own micro-company. The scheme offers new entrants the support and training needed to establish their own employment, whether as self-employed individuals or through their own micro-companies. It also welcomes PAs working in other care settings to join the Network, providing them with portable accredited background checks and access to an award-winning learning hub.
Simplifying Home Care Engagement In today's complex home care landscape, clients seeking consistent, personalized care from face new challenges with the likelihood of becoming ‘employers’ The approach of the Personal Asistants at Home scheme supports self-employed PAs and also offers a streamlined solution to the employer dilemma and provides access to a free setup and registration of a small limited company for those who wish to be employed through their own micro-company thereby allowing their client to contract with the company and not be regarded as an employer. Action for People CIC are dedicated to helping people establish themselves in the workplace and are excited to be able to offer PAs a new and vibrant replacement to the 'Support with Confidence' scheme.