Advice and support for PAs and PA employers

Community Contacts

Community Contacts is part of Carr Gomm and offers independent advice and support. If you’re a PA employer, it can help you understand self-directed support and feel more confident about arranging and managing your support.

If you’re interested in becoming a PA, Community Contacts will:

• have a conversation with you about the role and what’s required

• tell you about any current vacancies it knows of in your area

• put you in touch with the PA Network

Contacts:

• phone 01546 886 285

• email communitycontactshgl@carrgomm.org

PA Network Scotland

PA Network Scotland is a free membership community for PAs. It provides support, resources, guidance and opportunities to connect with other PAs.

As a PA or PA employer, you can also join a local PA Network Scotland Facebook group to connect with others and find information about job opportunities.

• phone 01563 594 217

• email pans@wea.ac.uk

Self-Directed Support Scotland

Self-Directed Support Scotland offers practical guides, helpful resources and training to support you in your role as a PA or PA employer, so you can feel informed and confident.

Resources include:

• PA handbook

• PA employer handbook

• Learning hub

• Training locator

• PA employer Doc Launch! tool

• Personal Assistant recruitment toolkit

Contacts:

• phone 0800 841 1321

• email info@sdsscotland.org.uk

Payroll support for PA employers

If you employ a PA, a managed payroll service can support you with paying their wages and managing the paperwork involved in being an employer. Read the SDS Handbook’s Payroll Services in Scotland guidance to find out more.

Wellbeing support for PA and PA employers

The National Wellbeing Hub has helpful information and practical resources to support Personal Assistants (PAs) and PA employers to look after their health and wellbeing.

Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) and Disclosure Scotland

Disclosure Scotland’s Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme helps keep people safe. Most PAs are legally required to join the scheme. This requirement came into force on 1 April 2025.

If you’re a PA, you must join the PVG scheme before starting work, as working without membership is a criminal offence. An exception applies if you’re a direct family member of the person you support. If you employ a PA, you can ask them to share confirmation of their membership.