Your pocket guide to
finding and keeping
personal assistants.
Think creatively...
Look for people who are
likely to have an
interest in this work.
This might border-radius
psychology
students, support workers or
volunteers.
Make Links...
with
schools, colleges, universities,
social care organisations,
volunteer programmes...
Use existing support
and guidance...
...to help you
find the right person.
This might be from websites,
advocacy groups, local council
registers, employment centres.
Before the interview
Give the candidate the
to
spend some time with
person
they
would be
supporting.
Highlight the challenges
but intrinsic benefits of the caring role.
Use the interview to...
Check
the
values
and
qualities
of the candidate, that they
are
realistic
about the job
and the person to be supported
liked them
Check
that the benefits of the job
match those the candidate
is expecting.
Be Sure...
Make sure the PA has the values,
knowledge and skills to provide
good quality support by providing
what the person being supported
wants and needs.
How do I retain
the staff?
Be rewarding
Offer competitive pay and conditions,
but remember it’s not all about pay-
flexible working patterns and hours;
the intrinsic reward of caring and
managing challenging experiences
can all be important.
Be clear...
Make sure the PA knows:
- what they are expected to do
- how they are expected to do it
- what their role is
Encourage
development...
Link in with local training
opportunities (universities and
colleges might be able to help).
Explore options for
online training.
Be supportive...
Find a range of different
ways to support the PA
This might be from:
You,Friends
Local networks
Local organisations.
Build in opportunities for the PA
to network with others.
Be positive...
Highlight all the good things about the work
Provide positive feedback that is:
- specific
- tailored to the person
- honest
