Frequently asked questions
How will the Support with Confidence scheme help me?
Support with Confidence is a unique scheme developed by Trading Standards and Oxfordshire County Council's Social and Community Services.
It offers peace of mind to people wishing to employ a personal assistant who has been vigorously checked and trained.
It includes free seven-day training, carries out Enhanced Criminal Records Checks and reference checks and approves personal assistants who successfully complete the requirements of the scheme.
All approved personal assistants are added to a register, and are issued with a numbered certificate as proof of their approved status.
How are approved personal assistants advertised?
Details for each approved personal assistant can be viewed on this website, helping people to find and compare candidates.
The details include:
- approval number
- telephone number and location
- date of their Enhanced Criminal Records check clearance
- all training undertaken with dates
- availability
- approximate charges.
Who pays for training, checks and vetting
All training, checks and vetting will be paid by Oxfordshire County Council.
What training is included?
- Principles of care
- Food safety
- Infection control
- Safeguarding adults
- Moving and handling
- First aid awareness
- Health promotion
- Communication skills
Will I be self-employed?
In order to be fully self-employed you must meet a number of criteria including:
- Being registered as self-employed with Her Majesties Revenue & Customs and being responsible for paying your own Tax and National Insurance.
- Holding current Public Liability Insurance.
- Providing cover for your own sickness and holiday absences (you must use a Personal Assistant who also has current Public Liability Insurance).
- Being responsible for directing all your own work, e.g. times and the manner in which the work is provided.
- Providing your own equipment to undertake the work.
If you want to become self-employed you need to check the requirements of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
One of the easiest ways to register as self-employed is via the internet. You can register online at the HMRC website www.hmrc.gov.uk - or by clicking on the link below:
Becoming self-employed and registering for National Insurance contributions and/ or tax
One of the easiest ways you can actually be self-employed is to form a Personal Assistant Partnership with others.
Are you unsure as to whether you are self-employed?
The HMRC website has a handy employment status indicator which identifies the status of the employee/worker based on a few simple questions. Click on the link below to access this tool:
How can I find out more?
If you would like to know more about Support with Confidence, please telephone 0845 050 7666 or email SupportWithConfidence@ oxfordshire.gov.uk
Resources and links
Leaflets
- Becoming an Approved Personal Assistant (.pdf, 1.1Mb)
- Finding and Hiring an Approved Personal Assistant (.pdf, 1.4Mb)
Documents
- Document 1 Developing Skills and Learning (.pdf 40Kb)
- Document 2 Keeping Safe (.pdf, 25Kb)
- Document 3 Personal Assistant Partnerships (.pdf, 61Kb)
- Document 4 Role of a Personal Assistant (.pdf, 62Kb)
- Document 5 Stakeholder pension (.pdf, 31Kb)
- Document 6 Statutory Responsibilities (.pdf, 65Kb)
Websites
- Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
- Association for Real Change
- Being the Boss
- Business Link UK
- Independent Living Advocacy
- Independent Living Alternatives
- UK Disability Forum Women's Committee
- Shared lives - adult placement
- National Centre for Independent Living
- Personal Assistants Network
- Social Care Institute for Excellence
- Skills for Care
- Log on to Care
