Becoming an employer of a PA

The PA Team can help with all Personal Assistant enquiries, including DBC and Right to Work checks. If we can’t help, we will point you in the direction of who can.

We also advise that when you purchase Employer’s Liability Insurance, you use an insurer who has an employment advice/HR helpline. We can help you to find out which providers offer this.

For any Personal Assistant related queries, contact the Personal Assistant Team: pa.register@reading.gov.uk

More information on the step-by-step process to becoming an employer.

Who can be employed as a PA

You can employ a range of different people to be your Personal Assistant. This includes a friend, neighbour or someone with or without care experience.

You cannot employ any of the following people, unless agreed otherwise by the Council:

  • a husband/wife/registered civil partner/partner
  • a close member of the family (including cohabiting partners, parents, parent-in-law, aunts, uncles, grandparents, children [step/adoptive/foster children], brothers/sisters or the spouse or partner of any close member of the family)
  • anyone living in the same household.

Paying your Personal Assistant

You must pay your Personal Assistant at least minimum wage. The exact hourly rate for your Personal Assistant will be stated in your Care and Support Plan. If you’re not sure what the hourly pay is, contact Adult Social Care on: 0118 937 3747.

In most circumstances, we pay your Direct Payment into a separate bank account along with your contributions. You will be able to use this account to make payments.

At the end of each pay period, you will need to email, call or text your payroll provider with the hours that your PA has done. Your payroll provider will tell you how much you need to pay your PA and HMRC.

If you have a managed bank account, your payroll provider will make these payments for you. More information on managed bank accounts.

You will need to keep copies of all invoices, receipts, timesheets etc. for six years.

Employing more than one Personal Assistant at a time

You are in charge of arranging your care and support. You can employ as many Personal Assistants as you need so long as:

  • you are keeping within your allocated support hours and allocated budget,
  • the support provided is to meet your eligible care and support needs.

Personal Assistants can have as many jobs as they want, as long as there are no restrictions in their employment contracts, and they work fewer than 48 hours a week.

Personal Assistants can work more than 48 hours a week if they choose to opt-out of the ‘working time directive’. More information can be found here.

Personal Assistants can have as many jobs as they want as long as:

  • there are no restrictions in their employment contracts
  • they work fewer than 48 hours a week.

Personal Assistants can work more than 48 hours a week if they choose to opt-out of the ‘working time directive’.

Keeping employees’ data safe

You can access free training on data protection and how to keep data safe.

To request this training, contact: pa.register@reading.gov.uk

For information on what records to keep, see the Skills for Care website.

Disputes with your Personal Assistant

If you need advice about your employee, you should contact your insurance provider.

Last updated on 20/08/2024