Talk to me about ABA tutors payments etc...

[staryeyed]

How do you pay your ABA tutors?

Did you do contracts?

Did you get insurance?

Aren't these things a PITA?

Well, I'm probably not the person to ask because I'm very slapdash . I did contracts at first when we employed our tutors - but then I let it slip and the two who are still working for us are doing it without contracts, which is probably very silly. It works for us because their university commitments change from term to term, as does DS2's school timetable, so we can be flexible both ways.

I've never done insurance, but again, probably should have done. I did CRB checks.

And yes it is a PITA! A friend of mine who's an ex-lawyer drafted our contract - I've probably still got it somewhere if you want to take a look. Might reduce the PITA a bit!

It is different for us because we're doing a distance programme with Growing Minds. If you use a provider they might sort these things out for you? Someone else will be along to tell you I'm sure.

Oh - I pay them weekly by cheque. The original contract stated that they were responsible for their own tax. Nat Ins etc.

We pay them monthly in arrears, by cheque. We have "consultancy" agreements with all of them, I based them on a sample contract provided by PEACH (our provider). Happy to email you a copy if you want one.
It's important to make it clear they are working as self-employed consultants and responsible for their own tax affairs, otherwise you may have to pay NI contributions for them.
We have insured them with Fish insurance (not that expensive, £84 per year for 5 tutors). If you want them to go into school as shadows, you might need to get professional indemnity insurance for therapists for them (I think Towergate was a name mentioned to me for this).

Homsa/Sphil if you could email me a copy of the contract that would be great.

It's something I hadn't even thought of.

Fish you say....Will go to look at insurance now....

My understanding was always that, unless you are their employer, a contract isn't enforceable. I suppose it make a huge difference whether your program is funded or not, and therefore whether your LEA wants to know who they are and how many hours any pay they are getting. When we were unfunded and it was cash in hand then it was up to me/them how we did it. Once we were funded I was asked to fulfil various requirements but they were all still self-employed, therefore no sick/holiday pay etc. I could go on and on!

I use direct payments- they can be self employed or employed - I leave it up to them to choose (dps prefer employed but will accept self employed). I have insurance because I have to to get the dps.

Have CAT'd you stary!