Direct Payments Factsheet
A5: Keeping safe
If you are considering employing your own personal assistant, it is crucial to take steps to ensure your safety and protect yourself from potential harm.
We strongly recommend seeking help and advice from the Direct Payments Support Service if you decide to hire your own staff. This service is free of charge and will provide you with all the support you need, including directing you to specialist expert advice at each stage of the employment process.
Direct Payments Support Service will assist you to carry out a Disclosure & Barring Check on the person you wish to employ. If you are a parent seeking to employ a personal assistant, you must speak to your social worker about these checks. We ask that you seriously think about this when you employ your own staff. North Yorkshire Council will cover the cost of these checks on your behalf.
There are several important considerations to keep in mind to ensure your safety when advertising for and interviewing potential staff to determine their suitability.
Follow this process to keep yourself safe:
1. Do not include your home address, telephone number, or personal details in the job advert. You could ask the Job Centre to advertise for you, as they have processes in place to help keep you safe.
2. Ensure you request at least 2 written job references from people you interview and follow them up.
3. Conduct the interviews away from your home address if possible and have someone with you for support.
4. You must comply with employment legislation. Direct Payments Support Service will assist you with this.
5. When the Personal Assistant starts working for you, it is advisable to have a friend, parent or someone you trust to spend some time with you during the initial period.
6. If you choose to recruit staff without support, please discuss this with your Direct Payments Advisor so that they can provide information on how to do this safely.
7. If you decide to use an agency, ensure it is registered with the Care Quality Commission. Discuss this with your Direct Payments Advisor, who will guide you through the process.
As part of receiving a direct payment from North Yorkshire Council you will be expected to use only registered agencies.
