Personal Assistants - Building capacity & quality

The JIP has commissioned a project to help build the capacity and quality of PAs in the region.

Personalisation of adult social care is resulting in significant numbers of people receiving direct payments and increasing demands for directly employed PAs.

The project will deliver:

• Legal advice and guidance on social care, employment, health and safety legislation, and the implications for councils' direct payment and safeguarding responsibilities
• An analysis of barriers to becoming (or remaining) a PA, and a strategy to overcome the barriers
• A specification for a PA register
• A business case for local authority investment in PA capacity building measures.

Project Sponsor, Mark Godfrey, Assistant Director of Adult Services at Coventry City Council, said: “it’s important that the project reflects the needs of those who employ personal assistants and those who work as PAs. Both groups are represented on the Project Board and, through a series of engagement sessions taking place in the New Year, we will make sure that we focus on the right issues.”

Project manager, Paul Johnston of Impact Change Solutions Ltd, said: “As we all strive to meet the target of 30% take-up of direct payments by March 2011, it’s important that the infrastructure is in place to support this growth without exposing councils to legal challenges and vulnerable service users to risk. The region recognises the importance of capacity building and a good quality PA workforce. Impact Change Solutions is delighted to facilitate this work.”

Engagement sessions for direct payment recipients and for PAs are planned for January 2010.

Contact Paul Johnston , telephone: 01670 528438 or 07847 318672, email: Paul.johnston@impactchange.co.uk