How to register
How to register if you are looking for a PA
As an individual looking for a Personal Assistant in Care to support you, you should register on the website as a “direct employer” and complete your profile. This is the information that PAs will see, try to include as much information about the role and about you too! Click here to see how to place an advert on the PA noticeboard.
It’s important to give the PAs an idea of the role and the person they’ll be supporting. As you will be the PA’s direct employer, you must ensure you carry out important checks such as Adult and Children Workforce Enhanced DBS check, the correct Public Liability Insurance and any necessary training, qualifications and references. Please visit ‘Looking for a PA‘ page for further information and templates
Some people receive funding from Adult Social Care to pay for towards their PA, find out more about direct payments. To find out if you might be entitled to support and/or funding you will need to be assessed. For further information on the Isle of Wight Council’s criteria for funding.
If you require support with writing your job description, or you have questions about the next steps please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We are here to support you throughout your PA search and afterwards.
Email: pamarket@iow.gov.uk
Telephone: (01983) 823642
How to register if you are a Personal Assistant looking for work
All new and existing PAs must complete the accreditation process before being able to apply for adverts on the Noticeboard. You will need to register first. Click here to register.
When registering as a PA, remember to include as much information about yourself as possible, include any paid or unpaid health and social care experience – for example the time you looked after a family member, friend, or someone you may have helped in the local community. It’s also important to include why you enjoy supporting people, add some personal interests i.e. what you enjoy doing in your spare time such as hobbies or any volunteering roles that you have done previously.
Once you have created your account on the PA Noticeboard, a member of the Team will contact you requesting your documentation and to attend an introduction session. Find out what documentation is required to be accredited. Please visit ‘Becoming a PA‘ page for further information and templates. If the supporting documents have not been received within three months your profile will be deleted from the PA Noticeboard and you will need to start the registration process again.
When accredited, it is vital that PA’s keep their accounts up to date at all time, when renewing Public Liability Insurance Certificates or Enhanced DBS Certificates you MUST inform the PA Market Team of your new policy/certificate number for our records. Please also remember to keep us up to date with your home address and contact numbers/emails.
If you are going to be working on a PAYE (employed) basis this means the person that you will be supporting (not the IOW Council) will be responsible for the payroll and employer’s liability insurance.
Once accredited both PAYE and Self-employed PAs will be able to apply for work through the advert section of the Noticeboard, PAs should make sure contact details and cover letters are up to date at all times. If you apply for a job advert via the PA noticeboard, the next step will be:
- If your cover letter meets the individual’s criteria, you should be invited to an interview, so that they can get to know you better. If you cannot make the time or have taken up another role – YOU MUST inform the individual, PA Market Team or Social Care Team involved that you can no longer attend the meeting.
- If successful, PAs should agree a start date and if you are a PAYE PA, sign an employment contract.
If you require support with writing your PA profile, or you have questions about the next steps please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We are here to support you, you can email: pamarket@iow.gov.uk or telephone: (01983) 823642