Personal Assistant or Care Agency: Which is Right for You?

Aug 19, 2024

4 min read

What is the difference between a personal assistant and a care agency?

The decision to go with a Personal Assistant (PA) or care agency will depend primarily on the length of time and frequency you wish someone to be in your home and how you would like them to help you.

PA’s are usually self-employed, individuals, who are registered with HMRC and liable for their own tax/National Insurance, they provide care as a sole trader, setting their own care rates. Although normally self-employed, PA’s can be also sourced through some care agencies and ‘introducer’ PA hubs.

PA’s can choose who they support and the type of service that they provide. Typically, a PA may work with a small number of clients and offer anything from a couple of hours per week to longer periods or occasionally full-time live-in care or respite live in care.

A care agency can provide live in care (and some specialise in providing live in care) but they are more often used for frequent daily calls, for example of 30/45/60 minutes, visits that are required several times a day, as they have a bigger team of carers, making it a more sustainable way to meet care and support needs that are frequent.

Personal Assistants and Care agency staff can also be supported by services provided by Adult Social Care or the NHS and a care agency, for example if 2 carers are required, an agency may provide the second carer, several times per day to help a PA or a live in carer.

REQUIREMENTS

The Care Quality Commission is the regulatory body for care providers. It has some exemptions for Personal Assistants who do not provide personal care, but tasks often include personal care, home management, shopping, companionship, carer relief and support with finances and correspondence, if required.

PA’s are required to have their own insurances in place and be able to provide you with a current DBS (Disclosure Barring Service), which you can request to see. A PA should also be able to provide you with references.

Carers provided through an agency will have all the correct personal and employment checks completed by their employer. They will have completed all the appropriate training to provide a good level of care. The agency will be registered with The CQC (Care Quality Commission) who oversee and regulate standards of care and individuals will be insured through the employer’s insurance to carry out their work.

ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES

PA’s:	Care Agencies:
The same person will be providing your care, offering you the continuity of care. It is important to establish contingency plans for illness, holidays, weather…	You may have any combination of carers coming into your home although you can request that you only have a small team of carers providing your support. This will help you to get to know your carers more and they will know how you like things to be done and know your preferences. Although this cannot be guaranteed, it should be discussed with the provider at the initial assessment so that your wishes are clear from the outset of your care package.
Check with your PA what will happen if they are unable to come to you at any time? If appropriate perhaps an alternative day could be offered or that time can be made up and added to another visit, agreeable with both parties.	Please ask your care agency “What is your Winter emergency plan”. This is to ensure that clients are not left without support during the Winter month’s when the weather is bad. Do they have access to a 4x4 vehicle for example, to attend client’s homes in deep snow so that there is no one left isolated without care.
If you require support 6 or 7 days a week you may have to engage with more than one PA to ensure that you have continuity of care and have a back-up plan if your regular PA is ever off sick or on holiday.	The benefit of having a Care Agency supporting your care is that you will always have a carer to support you. So, no sudden worries if your carer is unable to make it to you for any reason.
Before engaging with a PA you should have the opportunity to meet with any individuals before committing to a start date and a contract between you.	With a Care Agency you will have an initial pre-assessment meeting with the manager or suitable assessor to ensure the provider is able to meet your needs and to give you the opportunity to ask any questions, although rarely would you be introduced to the carers prior to starting a care package.

Please note: There is no right or wrong service, it’s just being able to make an informed decision from the options presented about what’s going to be right for you.

Care.Choice.Connect is a FREE care finding service for Buckinghamshire. We will help you find the right care for you. For us it's personal.