Personal budgets and direct payments

Many people who receive a direct payment from us choose to employ their own personal assistant.

Tasks that are often performed as part of the personal assistant role are:

• personal care, including washing and bathing, getting dressed and using the toilet
• leisure activities and getting out and about
• cooking and preparing food
• cleaning and housework
• providing assistance with getting into and out of bed and chairs

To help individuals find and manage a personal assistant we have arranged for Vibrance, a Direct Payment Support agency, to assist individuals wishing to employ a personal assistant.

Vibrance will:

• Help to source the right personal assistant for you.  If you don’t already have someone in your network in mind for this role then they have a register of personal assistants available locally on their LinkMeUp website.
• Provide support in recruiting staff (PDF - 1.14 MB).
• Give any initial and ongoing advice on being an employer (PDF - 173.58 KB).

If you are interested in using a personal assistant to provide the care support you require you can contact Vibrance for an initial discussion on this.

Could you be a personal assistant? 

You do not necessarily need to have experience of social care to become a personal assistant however training is arranged if required.  Adults who employ personal assistants report that the best traits for personal assistants to have are; listening well, using 'common sense' and respecting and working within the way the adult chooses to live. Vibrance will request references and undertake certain checks; Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and eligibility to work checks. Job descriptions, salaries and suitable days and times are negotiable with the individuals needing support.

You can find more information on how to become a personal assistant on the LinkMeUp website.