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  1. Direct Payments
  2. Direct Payment Information & Resources

Direct Payment Information & Resources

Follow the step-by-step guides below for assistance on your Direct Payment and employing a Personal Assistant.

There is also guidance on the different types of Direct Payments and accessible information.

If you require any of our fact sheets in large print format, please email our Information & Advice team at: [email protected]

PA Recruitment Pack

PA Recruitment Pack

Just recruited a new PA? This section contains all the Guidance you need to follow and all of the new starter documents you need to complete (excluding payroll and DBS information). Including job contracts, references and induction information. Read more

Published: 9th October, 2019

Updated: 15th August, 2022

Author: Helen Charlton

1. Getting started on Direct Payments

1. Getting started on Direct Payments

This section contains resources that will introduce you to the basics of Direct Payment management. Including: employing staff, preparing a budget, employers liability insurance and payroll. Read more

Published: 8th December, 2017

Updated: 15th August, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

2. Recruiting a Personal Assistant

2. Recruiting a Personal Assistant

Looking to recruit a new Personal Assistant? These resources will assist you through every aspect of the recruitment process. From writing a job description all the way through to the interview stage. Read more

Published: 8th December, 2017

Updated: 15th August, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

3. Making a Job Offer (Employing a Personal Assistant)

3. Making a Job Offer (Employing a Personal Assistant)

Now that you’ve found the perfect candidate, you’ll need to offer them a job! These resources cover job offers, holiday pay, references, timesheets and how to manage your employees’ holiday and sickness. Read more

Published: 8th December, 2017

Updated: 15th August, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

4. Getting your Personal Assistant started

4. Getting your Personal Assistant started

After you’ve offered the job, it’s time to get your new PA started in their role. This section covers Tax and National Insurance, ensuring your PA is able to work in the UK, risk assessments, contracts, induction and pension information. Read more

Published: 8th December, 2017

Updated: 15th August, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

5. Managing and Supervising your Personal Assistant

5. Managing and Supervising your Personal Assistant

Part of being a good employer involves ensuring that your staff feel they’re being managed effectively. This includes being able to resolve problems, carrying out effective supervision and disciplinary procedures when necessary. This section covers all these aspects of employment. Read more

Published: 8th December, 2017

Updated: 14th June, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

6. Ending your Personal Assistant's employment

6. Ending your Personal Assistant's employment

There will come a time when the employment of your Personal Assistant will come to an end. This could be due to a variety of reasons, but whatever the reason, it’s important their dismissal is handled appropriately. This section covers how to end your PAs employment. Read more

Published: 8th December, 2017

Updated: 14th June, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

7. Additional Information for employers

7. Additional Information for employers

This section contains a plethora of information on several different topics that weren’t covered in the previous sections. Including self-employment, employing children and young people, volunteers, poaching, and much more. Read more

Published: 8th December, 2017

Updated: 14th June, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

Covid-19 information and advice

Covid-19 information and advice

The latest covid-19 information and advice for direct payment employers. Read more

Published: 25th January, 2022

Updated: 6th April, 2022

Author: Gareth Shephard

A guide to employing personal assistants using your direct payment

A guide to employing personal assistants using your direct payment

If you're considering employing personal assistants using your direct payment, then our handy video guide is the best place to start.

In less than 15 minutes, this short video will explain the key roles and responsibilities of becoming an employer using a direct payment. Read more

Published: 24th February, 2021

Updated: 6th April, 2022

Author: Gareth Shephard

Disability Related Expenses: explained

Disability Related Expenses: explained

Disability Related Expenses (DREs) are any extra costs linked to any disability you have. This page outlines the categories of DREs, how to calculate them, evidence needed for DREs and how the DRE assessment works. Read more

Published: 19th March, 2018

Updated: 6th April, 2022

Author: Gareth Shephard

Easy Read guides to Direct Payments

Easy Read guides to Direct Payments

Easy Read guides about Direct Payments, Personal Health Budgets, Individual Service Funds and Education, Health & Care Plans. Read more

Published: 19th February, 2018

Updated: 6th April, 2022

Author:

Education, Health & Care Plans: explained

Education, Health & Care Plans: explained

This page contains information on educational health and care plans (EHCPs). This page explains who they are for, how to know if your child is eligible and how they work. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2017

Updated: 6th April, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

Individual Service Funds: explained

Individual Service Funds: explained

An Individual Service Fund (ISF) is where you choose a provider, rather than the council or yourself, to manage your personal budget. This page contains additional information on ISF's. Read more

Published: 20th December, 2017

Updated: 6th April, 2022

Author: Sylvia Mills

Information Sheets

Information Sheets

Over the years, we've compiled an extensive number of our Information Sheets. Unlike our factsheets, these are all short documents – most are no more than two sides of A4 – containing useful information on a variety of topics. Read more

Published: 8th March, 2021

Updated: 6th April, 2022

Author: Gareth Shephard

PA Retention Pack

PA Retention Pack

We have created a PA Welcome Pack which includes some suggested resources for you to assist with making your new PAs feel welcome in their new role and hopefully aid in staff retention. Read more

Published: 6th November, 2020

Updated: 4th November, 2021

Author: Gareth Shephard

Personal Budgets: explained

Personal Budgets: explained

New to Personal Budgets? This page explains where the money comes from, what it is used for, how the support gets agreed and why you receive the money. Read more

Published: 15th December, 2017

Updated: 16th August, 2021

Author: Sylvia Mills

Personal Health Budgets: explained

Personal Health Budgets: explained

New to Personal Health Budgets? This page explains what they are, now to find out if you (or someone you care for is) eligible for one and what they can be used for. Read more

Published: 15th December, 2017

Updated: 16th August, 2021

Author: Sylvia Mills

Pre-paid cards: explained

Pre-paid cards: explained

This page answers any questions you may have around pre-paid cards as a Direct Payment recipient. Read more

Published: 2nd July, 2018

Updated: 16th August, 2021

Author: Helen Charlton

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