Making use of the PA and PA Employer Handbooks

The Handbook has being developed in partnership with both PA Employers and Personal Assistants (PAs) themselves. Therefore, the information should be relevant to the needs and interests of both PAs and their employers.

There are two Handbooks in this resource, which are:

  1. The PA Employer Handbook – for Personal Assistant Employers
  2. The PA Handbook – for Personal Assistants themselves

Anyone can search both of these handbooks for further information and resources.

How to use the Handbooks

Once you go into one of the handbooks, you will see a number of ‘Chapters’. These are:

PA Employer Chapters:

  • Deciding to become an Employer
  • Taking first steps
  • Current employer
  • Ending an employer role
  • PA Employer Hot Topics
  • All PA Employers Handbook

PA Chapters:

  • What is a Personal Assistant?
  • What you need to know as a PA
  • Training and Support for PAs
  • Dealing with Employment Issues
  • COVID-19 Information
  • PA Hot Topics
  • All PA Handbook

You can go into any of these Chapters and find a range of Articles on different topics. At the bottom of many Articles there will also be additional resources that might be useful to you.

You will also get the option of downloading an Article as a PDF document, or printing off an Article if you would like to do this.

The Self-directed Support (SDS) Forum

Each of the Chapters in both Handbooks will also be linked to the SDS Forum. You can find this link in the top right hand corner of the web page. This is an online discussion forum, where you can ask a question or start a discussion on a certain topic related to Self-directed Support. So this could include a discussion on anything related to the employment of Personal Assistants. As there are people from all across Scotland taking part in the Forum, you might get ideas, information and resources from other places.

Finding Help

Both of the Handbooks will have a link to a ‘Find Help’ option, which can be found in the top right hand corner of the web page.

This will enable you to search for a range of Independent SDS Information and Support organisations across Scotland. You can either use your postcode to do a search or choose a Local Authority area.

Part of
    Last Updated
    21 June 2022
    First Published
    28 March 2022
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    Disclaimer

    Please note that the information contained in this Handbook is provided for guidance purposes only. Every reasonable effort is made to make the information accurate and up to date, but no responsibility for its accuracy and correctness, or for any consequences of relying on it, is assumed by Self Directed Support Scotland or any other contributing party.

    The information does not, and is not intended to, amount to legal advice. You are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal and professional advice from a lawyer about employment law matters, or an accountant/ tax specialist about taxation matters, and from HMRC and your insurers. You should not rely solely on the information in this Handbook. Support organisations listed in this Handbook can help you find appropriate sources of advice.

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