A Personal Assistant (PA) is someone who is employed to provide everyday care and support. This may include personal and domestic care, support to get out and about, as well as other day-to-day activities.
A PA can offer the most control over services, as they are better able to support an individual's specific needs and promote independence.
Please find information on applying and also support for you as a PA below.
Fully Funded Training Available Through User Led Organisations
Individual employers and personal assistants funded using adult social care direct payment from their local authority, or their own money (self-funders) can access funded training through local user led organisations.
On behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care, Skills for Care has awarded grant funding to 22 organisations so that they can deliver training aimed at personal assistants and their employers, and free for those learners. The training will be available up to the end of March 2024.
Find out more and access the funded training www.skillsforcare.org.uk/ulofunding
Blue Light Card Now Available For Personal Assistants
SOCIAL CARE PERSONAL ASSISTANTS WITH AN ILG PA MEMBERSHIP ARE
AMONGST THOSE WHO CAN NOW GET DISCOUNTS WITH BLUE LIGHT CARD
Blue Light Card, the UK’s leading discount service for the emergency services, NHS and wider Blue Light community, has now added Personal Care Assistants working in the social care sector, with an ILG PA membership, to its list of eligible professions who can benefit from its amazing discounts and rewards.
With over 13,000 retailers including big name brands such as New Look, Spotify, Greene King, Jet2holidays, Cineworld, Sky, Halfords and Ninja, Blue Light Card allows over three million members to take full advantage of savings, discounts and benefits that are often unavailable to the general public.
In 2023, Blue Light Card saved its members a huge total of over £330 million across electricals, fashion, travel, entertainment, and more.
Speaking on the update, Blue Light Card’s chief operating officer, Andy Collins, said: “We’re really pleased to be broadening our eligibility into this new category which will allow even more people to benefit from the incredible discounts available from our many retail partners.
“With spring just around the corner we’ve got some brilliant discounts coming up for days out and holidays, plus many savings available on everyday essentials so we recommend signing up for a membership as soon as possible so you don’t miss out!”
Independent Living Group’s National Training and Development Manager, David Ashley said: “Independent Living Group (ILG) are delighted to be working with Blue Light Card to ensure our members, from this vital workforce, can access such an amazing array of discounts and benefits.”
Registering for Blue Light Card is quick and easy. A card costs £4.99 and is valid for two years, it also includes access to the Blue Light card app where members can easily find information about all live offers. To prove eligibility for Blue Light Card, Social Care Personal Assistants must also hold an Employed Personal Care Assistant membership.
For more information about Blue Light Card, and to register, click here
How to register for an Employed Personal Care Assistant membership:
- To be eligible for an ILG PA ID badge and membership you must satisfy our eligibility criteria and confirm you are an employed Personal Assistant working in Social Care and/or Healthcare.
- To support your application, you will be required to upload the following documents:
- A recent payslip (dated within the last 3 months) or a current contract of employment.
- Formal Photo Identification (Passport or Photo Driving License).
- Photo ID (this will be the photo for your ID badge).
- Dedicated Coupon Code (this is if your employer has paid for your membership).
More information can be found here - Blue Light Card Information | ILG - PA
Homecare Workers' Group
Connecting domiciliary care workers in the UK.
Are you a home care worker?
Join us in bringing our community together.
Homecare Workers' Group is a secure online community exclusively for home care workers.
In addition to being a place where workers can find support and community, Homecare Workers' Group connects members with local and national opportunities to contribute to research, campaigns and policy.
Apply For Support with Confidence
If you are thinking of becoming a Personal Assistant, Support with Confidence is a free scheme which allows you to be accredited, trained and promoted online.
- Benefits of Support with Confidence include:
- e-learning training courses
- two references as part of your application
- an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check
- free promotion on www.nottshelpyourself.org.uk and www.asklion.co.uk, directories of services and providers in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City
The scheme is free for PAs. Once you have been accredited, your details will go live onto our directory of PAs on www.nottshelpyourself.org.uk and anyone looking for care and support will be able to contact you.
Watch a video in British Sign Language (BSL) about Support With Confidence.
N.B. As part of the application process for the Support with Confidence Scheme you will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This provides reassurance to prospective employers about your honesty and trustworthiness enhancing your prospects of employment.
If you would like to know more about the Support with Confidence Scheme or becoming a PA please email: nottshelpyourself@nottscc.gov.uk or direct.payments@nottinghamcity.gov.uk or apply below.
APPLY FOR SUPPORT WITH CONFIDENCE |
Register With ICO (Data Protection)
If You are working / looking to work as a self-employed PA, You may need to register with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) as you may be a data controller under data protection legislation. You must check to see if this applies in your situation and can do so by checking on the Registration Self-assessment pages of the ICO website . Further guidance around data protection is also available on the ICO website.
It is the responsibility of a self-employed PA to assess whether they need to be registered with ICO.
Register Your Services
Personal Assistant Directory
Working in Partnership with Nottinghamshire County Council and the NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups in Nottinghamshire and Nottingham City we have developed a shared PA Directory.
This Directory enables people to look for available PAs or to advertise for PAs and for potential PAs to register through the Support with Confidence Scheme.
Once you have successfully completed your application and been accredited, your details will be added to the register and directory of PAs on Nottinghamshire Help Yourself. Anyone looking to employ a Personal Assistant for support will then be able to contact you.
You can also create a post for yourself for free by signing up to ASKLiON and creating a listing.
Skillsforcare - PA Information Hub
Skillsforcare information hub is for individual employers and personal assistants (PAs). They have developed tailored information and resources to help you on your journey.
Employing your own personal assistants gives you the choice and control over who supports you and when. Access useful information to help you along your way.
Working as a personal assistant (PA) can be a very rewarding career and there are lots of opportunities to progress.
Visit Skillsforcare Information Hub
