PA Agency launched

A new company has been launched to help people organise their own care.

Amy Rice, who herself has arthritis, aims to take the worry out of employing a personal assistant (PA) for people who need help with their everyday life.

PA Agency, which was launched earlier this month, will also provide help with personal budgets – local government funding given to an individual following an assessment of their care needs.

Rice says that regardless of whether people receive funding from their local authority or fund their care themselves, having a PA can be a positive step to taking control of the care they need.

She said: “The Government is promoting the need for people to take control of their own care and personal budgets are one way of achieving this.

“However, people of all ages need the right support to make the most of the personal budget system and our service, available in Cornwall and Plymouth, will assist them in using their funding wisely to employ a PA.”

The new business will match a client to a PA from the company’s bank of PA staff. Help will also be provided with all human resources and legal aspects of employing a PA along with payroll and account management services and finding cover for a PA on long term sick, maternity leave or a replacement for a PA who has left.