How to find a pa (direct payments)? Any ideas?

[DoubleLifeIsALifeHalved]

Sorry this is more suited to the parents disabled board but doesn't get much footfall so appealing to you rather fabulous parents of children w special needs as well. Hope you don't mind. (I've been around a bit before on the EDS threads)

Need to find a PA who would help me but also my toddler (support me parenting + whilst I rest)...

Last time I advertised in various places w limited success, any better ideas????

Gumtree special needs & childcare (put in 2 diff sections, better people replied thru the childcare advert BUT the one I employed was rubbish at helping me)

Local job centre (awful cvs, loads just wanting to show they'd tried for jobs to get job seekers allowance... Totally unsuitable/ unqualified or sounded good but when phoned said they didn't want an interview)

A convenience store (as above)

Any ideas welcome! Thanks

Do you have a Social Worker or are in touch with a Disability Team that could help with ideas? What about an ad in the local newspaper (costs money though). Have you tried ringing your Council? The lady I employ does other jobs and she is subcontracted through them iyswim. You may be able to get names of companies that employ care staff.

It's slightly different for me as the PA I employ is for my children so it was advertised and arranged through the Children With Disabilities Team.

Oh, I was told I could employ a non-resident family member too. My niece used to help me out before she went to Uni.

I hope you get sorted soon.

The jobcentre is a complete joke. The CVs we get through there are extraordinary. Just mad. Spidery handwriting about loving the special ppl and being in prison for 20 years and so on.

It's REALLY hard to recruit PAs. We have found it very difficult, only managing ever to get one woman and we poached her from an agency (a lot of people resort to this but agencies can include very heavy fines in their contracts so be careful). You should have a Direct Payments broker and it is actually their job to support your recruitment, though I know many of them completely abdicate this aspect. They should be picking up referrals from their other DP clients, finding areas to advertise, etc. Good places are reportedly local teaching hospitals and universities--you can get student nurses, physios, etc.

I assist two families who have children with special needs. One replied to an advert I put on gumtree as a babysitter with SN experience. The other girl was in my class at her special school.

I've been working with snap child care (recommended to me on here) and they seem really good so far.

Have you thought about advertising in a local magazine. I advertised in a village parish magazine and found two lovely people when I was looking for an aba tutor. They didn't have much experience but were brilliant.

Ooh thank you all, did a big website advert & some flyers in the local area & am interviewing now, fingers crossed! If don't find anyone this week will do local papers & try & find a parish magazine. Thanks again.