Inaugural PA Web User Group

Overview

On Tuesday 4th March we held the first ever PPL PA Web User Group, which was attended by 22 colleagues working across PPL and the various Local Authorities and ICBs with a PA Recruitment Tool website. There was great representation from 6 of the current PA Web platforms across the UK.

The User Group highlighted the power of collaboration and building a community in which challenges and best practice can be shared.

PA Landscape

David Bowes, CEO of PPL, presented Skills for Care research on the PA Landscape and how the data can be used to target potential PAs.

Below are some highlights of the Skills for Care March 2024 Report.

• NHS England data shows that 215,000 were receiving social care direct payments from Local Authorities, of these 69,000 recipients were employing their own PA
• 86% of PAs said the most rewarding aspect of being a PA was helping people
• 54% of PAs were a friend or family member of their employer before becoming a PA
• 83% of PAs are female

Roundtable

The meeting gave attendees opportunity to share their experience with the PA Recruitment Tool:

• Bolton Council – Bolton are working with Disability Positive to promote the PA Web and support people in signing up to the site
• BSW ICB – BSW’s PA Web has recently gone live and the ICB is working on a marketing plan to promote the solution.
• East Riding Council – East Riding have been working in partnership with Yorkshire in Business to onboard PAs and Employers. This model has been very successful, with calculations last month showing that over 2000 hours of care had been filled per month via the PA Web.
• Hampshire County Council - Hampshire have undertaken user research to find out what users want from the PA site. They have used social media and local magazines for marketing and uptake is steady.
• Kent County Council - Kent have got approximately 80 employers that use this site to try and recruit a PA. At peak, Kent had nearly 400 PAs registered as interested in looking for work. When they first went live with PPL, Kent did a promotional campaign to highlight the website and generate some traction.
• Trafford Council - Trafford have started to attend local events such as local job clubs and have started to notice a bit of a difference with uptake. Trafford are exploring how the brokers from the direct payment team can support individuals with the sign-up process. Trafford are going to reach out to East Riding/Yorkshire in Business to explore best practice.

Outcome

The first meeting was a success and has opened the door for lots of collaboration and support between the local authorities. 

The next meeting will be scheduled for summer 2025.