Plans to make it
easier for people with disabilities to employ Personal Assistants
to help them to live as full a life as possible were revealed
today by Care Services Minister Paul Burstow.
A Framework for Personal Assistants helps offer
universal support for people with care needs as well as the PAs
they employ. It maintains the flexibility of the role, which makes
them so vital in helping people with disabilities to live their
lives and aims to increase the number of PAs available.
Research shows that those receiving payments can be nervous about
becoming an employer and the lack of a clear, universal job
description can be a barrier to those considering joining the profession.
The publication is part of the personalisation agenda at the
heart of the Government’s Vision for Adult Social Care to
deliver services chosen by people to meet their individual needs.
By 2013, everyone eligible should be offered a personal budget to
spend on the best care package for them. It is estimated that by
2025 this could create nearly 1.2 million Personal Assistant jobs
- there are currently less than 200,000 people working as Personal
Assistants in England.
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said:
"Many company executives would describe their PA as a
life-saver, but for those who employ a personal assistant for
their social care needs, they really do give them back their life.
Being able to set the job description spelling out exactly what
support you need and when, can be liberating. Its much better than
trying to fit your life around Local Authority-commissioned
services."
"I've seen today in Essex what can be achieved
when social services work together with people who need personal
assistants to make sure both they and their PA are fully
supported. The difference it has made to these peoples'
lives is a clear reminder of why personalisation is so important
and is at the heart of our plans for social care."
The new framework will:
Provide employers with an up to date toolkit to make the
practical side of employment easier to understand including job
descriptions and interviewing. Develop an induction framework so
all PAs have the same basic introduction to the role based on the
Common Induction Standards developed by Skills for Care.Create a
clear, national toolkit including templates for contracts and
other legal aspects of employment. This will be regularly reviewed
and updated.Use Local Authorities to assist in background and
reference checking where requested.Work with Job Centre Plus to
make all staff aware of PAs as a career option for job seekers.
In some areas employers and PAs already receive all this support
and more - but it isn't the norm. This Framework will
also look to help share best practice so everyone has access to
the same information and support.
Paul Burstow, this morning, visited ecdp (formerly Essex
Coalition of Disabled People), a disabled person’s user-led
organisation which offers a high level of support to people
employing Personal Assistants including a full payroll service and
access to training and development opportunities for Personal
Assistants. They currently support nearly 4,000 people to employ
personal assistants.
Anyone looking for information or support on hiring or becoming a
Personal Assistant should visit www.skillsforcare.org.
Notes to Editors
For media enquiries only contact the Department of Health Press
Office on 020 7210 5221The Personal Assistants Framework can be
found here: www.dh.gov.uk/publicationsThe Vision for Adult Social
Care can be found here:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_121508
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk