General Social Care Council (GSCC) Code of Practice for Social Care Workers

The Code of Practice for Social Care Workers sets out the standards of professional conduct and practice required of social care workers.

Peter Fletcher Associates Ltd - The Invisible Workforce – Developing PAs in the Adult Social Care Workforce

Results of research commissioned by the North East IEP looking at Personal Assistants (PAs) in the workforce in the North East and how best they can be supported.

Skills for Care - starting a career in social care

Skills for Care have produced a guidance leaflet for those considering a career in social care and an interactive career pathway e-tool allows you to identify your particular social care interests against job 'levels' to find what roles there are and see what range of qualifications are needed for those roles it also includes care studies and contacts for more information.

Think Local, Act Personal - Individual Budget stories

Think Local, Act Personal have provided some case studies of people who have used Individual budgets, some of which relate to the employment of Personal Assistants.

ACAS

Acas stands for Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, who's aim is to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. They supply up-to-date information and independent advice if you are in dispute that is free whether you're an employer or an employee.

General Social Care Council (GSCC) Code of Practice for the Employers of Social Care Workers

The Code of Practice for Employers of Social Care Workers sets out the responsibilities of employers in the regulation of social care workers.

HM Revenue and Customs - employer pages

This link is to HM revenue and Customs pages for employers that may provide you with some background information on tax and national insurance aspects of your employment.

Independent Living Association - fact and support sheets

The Independent Living Association (ILA) is a Sussex based user-led charity. These factsheets provide information for disabled people wanting to employ a Personal Assistant which might show you how you should be treated.

Skills for Care / IFF Research - Employment Aspects and Workforce Implications of Direct Payments

Produced in 2008, this report highlights views from both employers and employees about the Personal Assistant working relationship and may give you a picture of what is required.

Social Care Institute for Excellence - Direct payments: Answering frequently asked questions, Question 15. Is employing a personal assistant complicated?

A SCIE resource on Direct Payment Frequently Asked Questions, written with support from the National Centre for Independent Living, giving background information on employing a Personal Assistant.

UNISON - Employment rights for Personal Assistants

A UNISON leaflet designed to raise awareness and provide advice for personal assistants, while promoting UNISON membership.

Recruitment

Enham - Personal Assistant recruitment support

Enham offers advice and support to guide Personal Assistant Employers with recruiting their own staff and being a good manager. This may be useful to understand what kind of advice and support Personal Assistant employers are receiving. This is not an-accredited site.

Leicestershire County Council - employing a Personal Assistant

Leicestershire County Council provide a range of factsheets on the recruitment process for employers of Personal Assistants. This may be useful for you to understand the recruitment process from a Personal Assistant employer perspective.

Southampton Centre for Independent Living (SCIL) - Independent Living Services

SCIL are a user led organisation who provide advice and guidance for disabled people on employing PA's, which may be useful for you to understand what PA employers are being informed about. This is not an accredited site.

All Inclusive Community Interest Company

All Inclusive are a Community Interest Company based in Hampshire who offer a range of workshops and training, including a PA School (THIS IS NOT ACREDITED BY HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL).

Department of Health - Working for personalised care: A framework for supporting personal assistants working in adult social care 

This Department of Health framework sets out a strategy to enable support for the PA workforce and their employers. It is a starting point for further work bringing together many of the issues in one place for the first time.

PA Net

As a member of PA Net (membership is FREE) you will be invited to join the PA Net E-forums where you get the chance to discuss issues and problems with others in the same situation.

Raise Mental Health Limited - Mental health awareness

Raise offer a range of subsidised mental health awareness related courses, including General awareness, Condition related, Recovery related, Age related and Dual diagnosis sessions.

Skills for Care - Common Induction Standards

The Common Induction Standards, designed to be met within the first 12 weeks of a new or returning worker being employed in the social care sector, set out across 8 main standards, the first things you need to know for your work in providing care or support to people, whatever their needs may be.

Skills for Care - developing skills

Skills for Care framework and resources to ensure that care workers can access continued professional development. The National Occupational Standards describe the skills, knowledge and values care workers should meet for a variety of settings at different levels.

Department of Health - Working for personalised care: A framework for supporting personal assistants working in adult social care 

This Department of Health framework sets out a strategy to enable support for the PA workforce and their employers. It is a starting point for further work bringing together many of the issues in one place for the first time.

Department of Health - A guide to getting direct payments from your council: a route to independent living

Although this guide is aimed at offering advice to people who are thinking about or who are already getting direct payments, it may provide some useful context about the Direct payment process.

Peter Fletcher Associates Ltd - The Invisible Workforce – Developing PAs in the Adult Social Care Workforce

Results of research commissioned by the North East IEP looking at Personal Assistants (PAs) in the workforce in the North East and how best they can be supported.

Skills for Care - A framework for supporting personal assistants working in adult social care.

The Skills for Care framework has three broad aims, to support future growth of the PA workforce and their employers; to address challenges to the development of PA working; and to share best practice examples of personalised care provision by PAs and of support for employers.

Think local, Act Personal

A partnership comprised of over 30 national and umbrella organisations representing the broad interest in personalisation and community-based support taking forward improvements in practice to meet Government strategy.