PA Network Scotland

Latest news

The National Wellbeing Hub (www.nationalwellbeinghub.scot) is running a pilot of free online Reflective Peer Support Groups for Personal Assistants.
 
The Reflective Peer Support Groups will give Personal Assistants an opportunity to meet with peers across Scotland in a confidential, reflective space offering each other support with the aim of increasing wellbeing in the workplace. The group will enable reflection and support on the ongoing demands of work whether they be practical, psychological or emotional.
 
Pilot groups are being run for social care-related staff groups which have been recognised as roles that can be challenging and at times isolated. This project is being supported by the Scottish Govt PA programme board and expenses will be covered by the board.
 
What will be involved:
 
The pilot groups will consist of up to 10 members and be facilitated by the National Wellbeing Hub Clinical Lead (Counselling Psychologist) and will meet on MS Teams. Groups will meet once a month on the following dates, the expectation is that participants will attend every session: 2 – 4pm Thurs 7th Dec Thurs 18th Jan Thurs 22nd Feb Thurs 21st March
 
Each session will last 2 hours and group members will develop the agenda at the beginning of the session. At the end of the session group members will be asked to identify what has been helpful to them from the session. If appropriate, the facilitator will signpost to resources on topics discussed in the session. The group will be completely confidential and will be focused on you, and we will not ask you to share any identifying details about your employer.
 
The pilot groups will be evaluated with group members completing questionnaires before the first session and at the end of the last session. Group members will also be invited to attend individual interviews (not with the facilitator) following the final session to gain feedback on the pilot. A completely anonymous report will be written to summarise the evaluation.
 
Who are the groups intended for:
 
The group is intended for anyone who is currently working as a Personal Assistant. You do not have to have any experience of reflective peer support groups to join.
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How to get involved:
 
To apply for a place on the pilot please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

In your email please could you give the following information: How long have you been a PA? Are you part-time or full-time? How many employers do you have? Do you consider yourself at risk of burnout? What would you hope to get from these sessions?

Ayrhire Independent Living Network (AILN) in partnership with The Skills Network are delighted to offer anyone who fits the criteria below, the opportunity to complete  distance learning courses at no cost to the participant, thanks to the Scottish Funding Council and in partnership with West College Scotland and North East Scotland College.  The Skills Network have created an AILN Micro site and we have focused the learning around Health and social care.

These courses are all delivered via distance learning, to fit around peoples schedules, allowing people to study at a time that suits them. Learners can do up to 7 courses per year providing they are completed 1 by 1 and meet the criteria below.

  • 16+ as of 31 August 2022
  • Lived in the EU for 3+ years
  • Not in full time education
  • Not currently enrolled on any equivalent courses.
  • Not completed the same course previously

Anyone can check out the courses and register via the link below, any problems or additional questions, people can contact Sharon McLeod on 01294 475696 and we will be having virtual information sessions soon:

https://ailn.theskillsnetwork.com/

 

Self-directed Support: Improvement Plan 2023 to 2027

 As part of the National SDS Collaboration we are pleased to share the news with you that the SDS Improvement Plan 2023-2027 has now been published.

The plan, which the National SDS Collaboration played a key part in creating, sets out the priorities to drive forward improvement in Self-directed Support over the next few years.  It describes work that will take place at a national level right across the sector – from Government and local councils to third sector organisations, independent support organisations and others.

You can access the published plan on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/self-directed-support-improvement-plan-20232027/

Calling all Personal Assistants!

We need your help to understand more about the Personal Assistant workforce in Scotland.

The Scottish Personal Assistant Workforce Survey was carried out for the first time last year, and is being repeated in 2023 to see what has changed.

If you completed the survey last year, it’s really important you do it again this year – we want to understand what might have changed for you.

If you didn’t do it last time, we still really want to hear from you, so please take time to do the survey this year – we want to hear from as many PAs as possible.

If you're a PA Employer, we need your help to reach as many PAs as possible. Please share this information with your Personal Assistant(s) and ask them to complete the survey before the deadline at the end of April.

The results of the survey are used to inform the work of the PA Programme Board which brings together Scottish Government with PAs, Employers, and organisations working in Self Directed Support to recognise and develop the PA workforce.

As a thank you for taking part, you’ll have the chance to enter a prize draw to win one of five £50 Love2Shop vouchers.

  • The survey is anonymous and takes around 10 minutes to complete
  • You can complete the survey online on any device
  • If you prefer, you can call our helpline to complete the survey over the phone. Just call 0800 8411 321, lines are open Monday – Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm
  • Survey closes midnight on Sunday 30th April!

Take the survey: https://sdsscotland.formtitan.com/ftproject/paws23d2

 

What does this guidance relate to?

An increase in Self-Directed Support (SDS) Option 1 Budgets will take place which will allow for a pay uplift for the Personal Assistant workforce.

There will also be an uplift to Independent Living Fund Scotland (ILF Scotland) budgets from April to allow for a pay uplift for Personal Assistants.

Why is the Scottish Government providing this funding?

This funding will ensure the minimum hourly rate for workers providing direct adult social care, including Personal Assistants, will rise from at least £10.50 to at least £10.90 per hour.

Where PAs are already paid more than £10.90 per hour, this funding should be used to increase pay above these levels.  All funding should be spent on uplifting pay.

Local Authorities and ILF Scotland will write to PA employers to advise them of these changes and to inform them of the purpose of this uplift.

 Who does it apply to?

This uplift is for directly paid Personal Assistants (PAs) providing assistance for adults who are individuals with assessed needs. 

The Personal Assistant workforce receives their payment for the vital support they provide to enable the adult to live independently. A PA is eligible for this uplift if they are directly paid by the social care support recipient or the person who is acting for a social care support recipient, who receives funds to pay PAs from Independent Living Fund Scotland or from a Local Authority or Health and Social Care Partnership through Option 1 Social Care (Self Directed Support) Act 2013.

When will the uplift be applied from?

The extra funding will take effect from April 2023. It might take a short time to filter through to everyone but the £10.90 rate should apply for hours worked from 1st April 2023

What should a PA employer do if they haven’t received this uplift?

PA employers should contact their Local Authority or ILF Scotland.

 

 

The updated Self-directed Support statutory guidance has now been published on the Scottish Government site.

Please see below for links, and please feel free to share these links.

The course is delivered via Zoom and can be arranged to suit availability. The course runs for 2 hours and is normally delivered on a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. On completion of the course and once the course evaluation is returned each participant will receive a copy of An Inclusive Communication Guide for Engaging with Deafblind People and an Attendance Certificate.

Anyone who is interested in attending should contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or ring us on 01563 522551

Are you a young Personal Assistant (aged around 18 - 26)? Would you be willing to share your experience to highlight the role of the PA and encourage other young people to become PAs?

SDS Scotland are doing some work to promote the role of PAs, and would like to hear from you. If you're interested in sharing your story, it could be on video, in writing or however you'd feel comfortable.

Sharing your experience is a powerful way of encouraging other young people to discover what can be a very rewarding role.

If you are interested in taking part, or would like more information, please contact Kayleigh: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 07727 405732

Help is available from the Scottish Government during this costs of living crisis. For more information on this please click on the fiollowing link - 

Cost of living crisis - Cost of Living Support Scotland (campaign.gov.scot)

The National SDS Collaboration is formed of a wide range of stakeholders involved in SDS implementation, to ensure that people with lived experience and unpaid carers can fully exercise choice and control in their support and care. PA Network Scotland is a member of the collaboration.

Purpose of the National Collaboration

The National Collaboration will play a key role in offering tangible outcomes to support improvements to SDS implementation in Scotland.  The National SDS Collaboration also provides a means to channel the voice of national stakeholders to influence Scottish Government developments around Self-directed Support.

There is a dedicated National SDS Collaboration website where you can read more, simply click on the link below - 

National SDS Collaboration - Self Directed Support Scotland | Self Directed Support Scotland (sdsscotland.org.uk)

In collaboration with other organisations including ourselves Self-Directed Support Scotland have produced a Personal Asistants Handbook which goes hand in hand with the updated PA Employers Handbook. The handbook contains a guide to being a Personal Assistant (PA) and includes loads of useful information that will be helpful to existing PAs and people who might be considering becoming a PA.

The handbooks can be found by clicking on the folowing link - Welcome - The PA & PA Employer HandbookThe PA & PA Employer Handbook

My Job Scotland website now has a page dedicated to Personal Assistant vacancies across Scotland. The page has recently been created and provides a comprehensive overview of what a PA in Scotland is and how to find work. All organisations with links to PA vacancies are welcome to have their websites linked to this page.

The page can be found by clicking on the following link - 

Personal Assistant Jobs | myjobscotland

The page will continually be updated as it evolves.

The Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC) in conjunction with NHS Education have launched a National Induction Framework.

The framework is aimed at helping to increase awareness and increase the knowledge and skills of all social care workers, there are many things that Personal Assistants can learn about their own role. Please click on either of the links below and take a look. The Framework will be updated as progress is made.

NES comms:

https://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/news/new-induction-resource-for-adult-social-care/. 

SSSC comms:

https://news.sssc.uk.com/news/new-induction-resource-for-adult-social-care. 

We are delighted to be a part of the PA Programme Board that has been set up with the aim of identifying potential solutions to ensure that PAs become integrated into the social care workforce with the same recognition, rights and support as every other worker.

As part of this work, we’d like to make sure that as many people with lived experience of being a PA employer, or a PA, can be involved in setting the agenda and workplan for the Board. To do this, there will be three engagement sessions facilitated by an organisation called Matter of Focus. Matter of Focus specialise in supporting organisations to collect information and use this to show how they meet their outcomes and goals. The dates for these sessions will be on:

  • Friday 24 September: 10am – 12:30pm
  • Friday 1 October: 10am – 12:30pm
  • Friday 8 October: 10am – 12:30pm

We would like people to be able to attend all three sessions, but if this was not possible, it would still be great to have you there for one or two sessions.

A very interesting read from the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland written by the Chief Executive of SDSS and co-chair of the PA Programme Board Donald Macleod. How do we ensure we get it right for PAs looking to the future?

To read the full article please click on the link below - 

Future of Social Care - Getting it right for PAs - Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (alliance-scotland.org.uk) 

 

Resource launched to help disabled people employ their own support staff

Self Directed Support Scotland has launched an update of the Personal Assistant (PA) Employer Handbook, first published by the Scottish Government in 2014. We are delighted to have contributed to this excellent resource. Personal Assistants can also source some useful information within the handbook.

With thousands of PA employers across the country, and with tens of thousands of people accessing Self-directed Support (SDS), it’s important that both current and potential employers under Option 1 of SDS have access to consistent and good-quality information at all stages of their employer journey.

Being a PA employer allows someone using SDS to exercise the maximum amount of choice and control over the support they need. It enables them to choose the people that support them, at a time that is right and in a way that works well for them. Becoming a PA Employer also involves responsibility, sometimes requiring further information and support.

Stay informed

Contact me with regards to PA Network updates and upcoming events in my area.

Get in touch

01563 522551 info@panetworkscotland.org.uk

Workers Educational Association Self Directed Support Scotland Scottish Government