Nowadays people want a little more control over their lives. People want the right to make choices. Disabled people needing support in the community are no different - they also believe they have the right to exercise choice in their lives. When disabled people have community care needs around their daily existence, they want the right to choose how they receive it and who provides it.
Disabled people employing their own Staff
Local Authorities now offer disabled people the right to choose who they want as personal assistants. This can be done by advertising for and employing people whom they feel are suitable for such a job.
Someone who wants to be employed by a disabled person as a personal assistant, will be ‘someone’ who wants to contribute something positive to another person’s life.
Personal Assistant (PA) or ‘carer’ ?
In a number of ways it is a ‘care’ job, for it is a job which requires an approach which is considerate of the other person and the effect of one’s actions on that person. But, it is a job where the disabled person is not patronised or seen in a negative way.
Employing a personal assistant becomes a positive choice and puts control back in the hands of the disabled person. It can mean having assistance at the right time from the right person.
It is through such changes that a disabled person has more opportunity to lead an individual and independent lifestyle in their own home and within the community. In a good working relationship, the personal assistant would understand their role as facilitating and supporting the self-defined needs of the disabled person.
Who is in charge?
The disabled person is the employer, and it is he or she who defines the job and is in control of the job. Disabled people who become employers of their own staff will succeed by providing their employees with good working conditions, and by showing respect for their employees.
As the ‘employer’ the disabled person constructs their own job description. By looking at any particular job description, you can see exactly what is actually involved in each particular position. One personal assistant position will be different from another.
An effective and valued personal assistant is one who wishes to contribute towards their employer’s independence by supporting their right to control their own affairs and lifestyle.
The working relationship
Due to the close working nature of personal assistance there has to be understanding and respect from both sides for the relationship to succeed. All disabled people who employ personal assistants want employees who are reliable, who are punctual and who are efficient.
Confidentiality and discretion are vital qualities in such a working relationship and are essential in a personal assistant. Such qualities inspire trust in one’s employees, which in turn results in loyalty.
What does Dewis C.I.L. do ?
Dewis C.I.L. provides a support scheme which enables disabled people to gain greater independence. The services of this scheme provide disabled people with support for the recruitment, management and payment of their personal assistants.
· Dewis C.I.L. does not employ any personal assistants. It provides support to disabled people to find their own personal assistants.
· Dewis C.I.L. does not pay any personal assistants or control any money. A disabled person pays their own staff from money they receive from their Local Authority.
If you also believe disabled people should have this independence, then perhaps you would make a good personal assistant?