Minimising risk in Personal Assistant (PA) Employment and

Direct Payments

We Chose To ClimbJess Wade

Self Directed Support Scotland

Self Directed Support Scotland

About SDSS video

What is Self Directed Support?

FreedomChoice

DignityControl

What are the concerns?

Financial management Vulnerable people Personal Safety Abuse Capacity Duty of Care

PA Employment

• In PA employment, the supported individual, or a close carer, is the Employer

• Most PA Employers choose this option because it gives maximum choice and control

• It also gives the opportunity to assert the need for support rather than protection

• Direct relationship between Employer and PA

Approaches to minimise risk

• Informed decision making• Safe recruitment practice• Training and support for PAs and PA Employers• Regular, appropriate, review• Good, ongoing, support

What is unique about a Disabled People’s

SDS support organisation? • Run by, and for, disabled

people

• Peer model of support

• Local, collective voice of disabled people

What is the role of a SDS support organisation?

• Initial information on SDS• Support with assessment• Support planning• Personal Assistant employment support• Support with contracting with agencies• Payroll service• Signposting

What’s it all about?

‘People are supported to take responsibility for the choices they make and the control they take over the activities to meet their agreed outcomes’

SDS Statement of values and principles – May 2014

DICE video.

Self Directed Support Scotland (SDSS)

6, PURE OfficesBonnington Bond2 Anderson Place

Edinburgh, EH6 5NPinfo@sdsscotland.org.ukwww.sdsscotland.org.uk