Personal assistant (PA)

A personal assistant (PA) is someone you employ to support your family. They can help you so your child can take part in activities.  

You can employ a PA through Short Breaks if we agree they can help meet your child's identified needs and outcomes as part of their plan. We will document it as part of your child's specified activities in their Short Breaks plan. 

You can only used Short Breaks funding for a PA if it is documented in your child's plan.

You cannot employ anyone in your family, your partner or anyone who lives at the same address as you to be a PA.

If your child is under eight-years-old

If your child is:

• Under eight-years-old, and
• Cared for outside of the home for more than two hours a day 

your PA must be a registered childminder. This does not apply if your child is cared for within the family home.

Employment hours 

It is important you employ your PA to provide:

• Regular and reliable short breaks throughout the year for your child or young person, and
• Regular and reliable employment throughout the year for the PA 

We will agree:

• A minimum of 52 hours each year if the PA is employed for the school holidays only
• A minimum of 104 hours each year if the PA is employed throughout the year

Sunday working

You cannot force someone to work on Sundays. Even if they agree, they can opt out of Sunday working by giving three months' notice. Read information on Sunday working on GOV.UK. 

Paying for a PA's mileage

You can claim travel mileage for your PA if they use their own car, have business insurance and it is agreed in your child's Short Breaks plan.

If you have a mobility car for your child, we expect you to use this for trips out.

Finding and employing a PA

If you decide to become an employer, the Short Breaks team can refer you to our Direct Payment Support Service (DPSS).

The DPSS can help you find a personal assistant and provide guidance on Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Your responsibilities as an employer

Read the Direct Payment Support Service's (DPSS) guidance on responsibilities of being an employer. It includes information on:

• Proving your employee's right to work
• Employment contracts
• Employment and public liability insurance
• Health and safety

You will also be responsible for making sure you pay your PA correctly. The DPSS offers payroll and invoicing support. Read information on paying your personal assistant.  

Self-employed PAs

If you are looking for a self-employed PA, search the personal assistant register on the Norfolk Community Directory. 

A self-employed PA may work as a sole trader, part of a partnership or have set up a limited company. Self-employed people are responsible for paying their own tax and national insurance.

Please note: Employment tribunals have occasionally ruled that self-employed people are actually employed. For more information visit working for yourself on GOV.UK.

Changing your PA's employment or hours

If you want to:

• Remove your PA from your child's Short Breaks plan
• Make significant changes to their number of working hours 

you must discuss this with the Short Breaks team.

Spending allocated PA funding on activities or items instead

You cannot use funds allocated to pay for your PA for activities, toys or play equipment instead. This is because a PA is part of your child's specified activities detailed in their Short Breaks plan. 

Any unspent funds may need to cover the PA's:

• HMRC payments 
• Unclaimed holiday pay 
• Pension payments