Employing a Personal Assistant

The government has laid down certain rules about who you can employ with Direct Payments:

• You cannot usually employ a close relative who lives in the same household
• You can employ a relative who lives elsewhere

If you choose to employ a personal assistant with your Direct Payment you must enter into a contract of employment with them – you cannot pay them 'cash in hand'.

Support

You can obtain support with employment issues from an organisation Swindon Borough Council works with called the RHC Trust. They have all the employment law knowledge you will need and will assist you with all aspects of recruitment and employment down to managing the payroll for you.

Your Choice

The government wants as many people as possible to benefit from Direct Payments. But you don't have to have a Direct Payment if you don't want to - you can opt to have services instead.

Qualification

In order to receive a Direct Payment or any Council funded Carer’s service you have to have been assessed for, and be eligible to receive, services from either Adult Care Services or Children’s Services.

Further Information

Please phone Care Line on 0800 085 66 66, or your care manager.