Tess’s Story - Individual Employer

I am currently 36years old and I have been hiring PA’s since I was 16. All my childhood and pre-teen years I was solely cared for my my parents and grandparents, no outside help and no respite. I was fully dependent on my family for all my care.

Naturally as I aged, like everyone I wanted independence. I didn’t want to cart my mother around meadowhall with me.

At 16 I became funded by the Independent Living Fund and I employed my friends. They helped me get around, helped me get to sixth form, etc. Unfortunately as I got older I needed more personal care and assistance and so I started to hire Personal Assistants.

For my independence it was imperitative that I employ people myself. I didn’t want to rely on an external agency to choose people and send people.

This way I am HR, I am hiring and firing and I am the boss and for me this was always so important. I have been very privileged with the PA’s I have had and I know there are sometimes problems but my PA’s have always been amazing.

I need 24/7 care and having a personal assistant in my house is like having a flat mate but one that does things for me. If my PA and I clash it’s awful, as it would be for any room-mate/friend but due to my needs, it’s so important to click with people. I know through hiring my own PA’s that we mesh and we get along, we understand each other and are like-minded. Having a PA also gives me the flexibility to end a contract if the situation is not working for either party, but if it was an agency those decisions and rota’d care would be outside of my control and that would be sole-destroying.

I am very lucky with my PA’s because we are like-minded and they are hired by me. My PA’s go on holiday with me, sometimes without pay because we have built that kind of a relationship. Without my Direct Payment, without my PA’s going on holiday would just not happen. My PA’s escort me to work events, to family gatherings and accompany me on shopping trips. My PA’s do everything with me, anything I do, they do.

I would definitely recommend DP’s and PA’s because I can’t imagine life another way. I don’t know why you wouldn’t want control of your own life and the people who you need to make it happen.

You must be firm with what you want from your life, PA’s are working for you and they need to fit around your lifestyle. Be firm but fair and encourage mutual respect.

Tess - Individual Employer