The Personal Assistants Network is a national network to support personal assistants (PAs) and those who employ them.
It is hoped that this support will assist the growth and development of the role, the status, and the viability of the PA function by making it easier for PAs and their employers to access information about responsibilities and rights, standards and training, legislation and guidance. This, in turn, will make the role of the PA more attractive and less isolated, and will encourage more people to seek Direct Payments or Individual Budgets in order to manage their own support.
Typically, the level of monies given via Direct Payments and Individual Budgets does not allow for much training to be purchased. A key function of the network is to become a national vehicle for training funds and act as a national 'centre' for training for PAs - securing LSC and other funding for this diverse and essentially disparate group of workers. We would then make this funding available alongside information about what training is available locally, via distance learning, self-access or e-learning.
We are creating a Knowledge Centre for employers and employees around this new role, to help them understand their responsibilities under law, and to point them towards sources of local help. This will help us assist in the sharing of best practice and offer both parties somewhere to turn to for answers to difficult questions.
We have created a website, and aim to produce a newsletter very soon, both of which will have the potential to offer specialist 'job vacant/job wanted' service to this group.The website has a wealth of information on Direct Payments, Individual Budgets and Employment Rights. There are also links to useful websites, contact information and a resources page for important documents on policy and developments.
Click here to visit the PA Net website.Joining the PA Network is free, for more information on joining visit the registration page on the website.
The availability of Personal Assistants is a key element in the drive to extend Direct Payments and Individual Budgets, and if this support role cannot be made to work well then this service development will be greatly hindered by the lack of suitable workers.
For further information contact either Yvonne Furze, Project Worker, or Dorothy Robinson, Project Support. They are both based at Chesterfield - 01246 555043.
This project has been funded by the Department of Health.