Eleni’s story as an Individual Employer:
Initially it was a bit daunting employing PAs however once I’d got the paperwork and systems in place, such as employment contracts and payroll, everything was a lot easier. And I am so glad I did it now – being able to employ who I want, when I want and, importantly, being able to ask them to do particular tasks in the way I’d like them done makes such a difference to me. This word “personalisation” is sometimes meaningless in social care, however, employing PAs illustrates how personalisation is meant to be as I have the choice and control in what work my PAs do with me.
My Individual Employer Experience by Zahid
I am an Individual Employer (IE) who employs Personal Assistants (PAs) to support me to live the life I want to live. I have shared my story over the phone using the UK relay service, writing my responses with my feet. Thanks to UK Relay, I can call people myself and I no longer have to wait for others to do it for me. This is one of the three things that has revolutionised my life in the last 10 years. The second thing is the personalised care package and support network I have. My network consists of 5 or 6 PAs and my amazing family and friends. The third thing is my electric wheelchair which has given me the freedom to go out on my own for the first time in my life.
I think I get on with everyone I meet. I am sociable, I love spending time with family and friends or sharing jokes and having a laugh. I absolutely love the freedom of managing my own support. I get the help I need without anyone telling me what to do which is immensely liberating.
Being an Individual Employer:
I tend to find my PAs by searching on indeed. They are a diverse mix of individuals, and I get on well with them all. I love being in a position to direct my own support to meet my changing needs and interests. Every morning and evening my PA’s support me with my personal care and meal preparation. Each day is different, as they help me achieve my goals and do the things I enjoy and going out for long drives in the countryside is a firm favourite.
It can occasionally be tricky when the PAs are on holiday, but the direct payment works flexibly, and they generally work well as a team to fill in the gaps.
Best part of having personalised care by employing PAs:
I would recommend employing PAs to anyone looking for personalised support at home because you are your own boss, without anyone telling you what to do.
My Personal Assistant Experience by Amber
I am in my early twenties and currently studying for a master’s degree in psychology at the university in Sheffield. The course involves a lot of research and self-study which means I only spend about a day a week in lectures. This provides a lot of flexibility when it comes to finding work to boost my income. The Personal Assistant (PA) role fits well around my studies and gives me meaningful work experience for future job applications.
I got her first PA role through word of mouth. I used to attend the Mencap & Gateway youth clubs with my three siblings, and whilst having a great time there I met lots of other young people with various disabilities. After reaching the age limit for the youth club, I was approached by a parent to ask if I would be willing to support her son. The request was for a few hours a week, to attend the youth club and help him to stay healthy and active. Help develop his independence and confidence out and about in Sheffield. I agreed to give it a go for a couple of weeks and found that it worked perfectly.
I have since been approached by two more people looking for individual support. One of whom is a girl of a similar age to me. Our arrangement is very flexible, and I usually work for a few hours each week, often going for walks, out to a café together or even to watch horror films at the cinema!
I also work with a lovely young man for around 10 hours a week over a couple of sessions. Each week is varied, sometimes we have very specific tasks to achieve, like going to the bank or the shops, and other times we might go out together for some exercise in a local park.
I have found that my psychology degree has been really helpful when working with people in a one-to-one setting. More importantly, I am autistic myself and I feel strongly that my own lived experience of neurodiversity and navigating a world that presents daily challenges makes me perfect for this type of work. I understand what it feels like to be a bit different. I have learnt to develop strategies to overcome barriers and find this really helpful in noticing issues as they arise and supporting my employers to deal with them positively.
Initially I wasn’t sure if I would have the skills or the confidence to do this type of work and, unlike most jobs, I wasn’t offered any training. But I have learnt lots on the job and feel that my own experiences and understanding of neurodiversity have really helped me to do the job well and provide support that is person centred. I know from personal experience that the one-size-fits-all approach is never good enough and I have become adept at helping the people I support to develop their own strategies to deal with the day-to-day challenges of navigating the world.
Top tips for becoming a PA: Be open to learning new things and take time to listen to individual preferences and stories. Understanding that everyone is different really helps to build positive relationships with the people you are working with. Taking a non-judgemental and relaxed approach works well and where possible without hierarchy. It can often feel like you are friends so it’s important to set boundaries.
Best part of the job…I love this work because every week is different. I think I would find an office setting overwhelming and it’s great to know that you can do a rewarding and worthwhile job with this much freedom and opportunity to be out and about in nature and the local community.
My Personal Assistant Experience by Ellen
I have been a Personal Assistant all of my adult working life from having it as a second or third job to it now being my main job. I have worked with children with autism, adults with Neuro Diverse challenged for example Tourette’s and also wheelchair users. I have had an extremely varied experience.
I started as a special needs teaching assistant at a school and would occasionally take the children after school as a personal assistant role to do stuff such as go to the cinema, go out for food, etc. I would do things that sometimes the parents wouldn’t do due to confidence or having other siblings to take care of, etc.
I took a break and had my family and then returned to work in a children’s home. I then took a second job, working as a PA for a lady, my own age who had Tourette’s. She worked in the local authority, and she gave me a real understanding of living life with her condition. We talked and it seemed that travelling to work and from work was a challenge. She would supress her Tourette’s in meetings but then after meetings she would struggle with tic attacks, sometimes physically harming herself. She found that she struggled to maintain safely.
She eventually signed up for an access to work fund and that paid for me to assist her in her job, 2 days a week. I would pick her up from home, take her to the office, help her in preparing for meetings, Take her somewhere scenic for lunch breaks, etc. I would help her make the smaller decisions, giving prompts and support and help her with her working life.
I would recommend this role to other people. When you make that relationship with another person, you don’t feel like you are employed, there is no pressure on you to go to work (although obviously we must go to work and provide the support) but it doesn’t feel like work. I love that being a personal assistant doesn’t feel like work, if you enjoy what you do, it doesn’t feel like work, and it is just so rewarding.
Working with various people, hearing them ask me things, being someone that can be relied on, someone who is there for them, someone to listen and comfort their anxieties, give confidence and motivation. I feel like you are part of their journey. We are that supportive family member that says ‘you’ve got this, you can do it’. It feels like I am working with my friends/family and it’s great satisfaction to know that you are considered as close as family members to that person too.
Be friendly, be approachable… that’s the first step. My individual employer says she doesn’t want a carer, she wants a friend, someone that will put their arm around them and say everything will be ok. It’s so fortunate that you get paid to be someone’s pal… it’s rewarding to just be yourself. You choose who your own friends due to how much you get on with them, and there’s always someone looking for a friend like you to work with.
