Getting help to sort out problems

Having a strong working relationship is important for any Personal Assistant and their Employer.

There may unfortunately be times when PAs and PA Employers run into problems and need help to sort them out.

There are many places you can get help – find out more below.

Support for PA Employers

There are local Independent Support Organisations in many parts of Scotland who can help with all aspects of being a PA Employer, including any difficulties you face in the role.

If you have problems with your Personal Assistants and need advice on how to deal with this, speaking to your local Independent Support Organisation is a good place to start. You can search for details of an organisation near you using the Find Help search tool.

Your insurance provider may also be able to give you advice and support around any difficulties you are having with your Personal Assistants.

Support for Personal Assistants

The Personal Assistant Network Scotland is the only specialist organisation in Scotland, dedicated to supporting PAs. Membership is free and the PA Network Scotland offers a range of benefits and support to PAs. Find out more on their website: https://www.panetworkscotland.org.uk/

ILG PA is a UK-wide membership platform which offers support, wellbeing advice, training, guidance and rewards. There is a cost for membership although some Employers may cover the cost of this. Find out more on their website: https://www.ilg-pa.com/

You can also find out where you can get advice on employment issues in the Resource at the bottom of this page.

Mediation

Mediation is a flexible process that can be used to settle disputes in a whole range of situations. Mediation involves an independent third party, the mediator, who helps people to agree a solution when there is a disagreement. The mediator helps parties work out what their issues and options are, then use those options to work out an agreement.

If there are problems between a PA Employer and their Personal Assistants, asking for help from a mediator may be a good solution. There are often costs involved in using a Mediation service, so a good place to start may be contacting the Scottish Mediation Helpline first. Find out more on the Scottish Mediation website below.