Finding Emergency Cover

Having your own Personal Assistant gives you more choice and control over your support, but what happens when your PA calls in sick, cancels at the last minute or simply doesn't turn up?

You may also find that your circumstances change unexpectedly and you suddenly need additional support. While it is worth having a plan for emergencies, you don't necessarily need to panic. There are several ways to find temporary PA cover at short notice.

Have more than one PA if possible

If your support needs allow it, having more than one PA can make managing unexpected absences much easier. You might have a small team of PAs who work different days or shifts. This means that if one PA is sick or unavailable, another PA who already knows you and your routines could be able to step in.

Having more than one PA also means you can gradually train each person to provide your support, rather than having to explain everything to someone completely new during an emergency.

It's also worth keeping in touch with previous PAs who have worked with you. Even if they no longer work for you regularly, they may be available for an occasional shift or have more availability than when they originally left.

Try PA Pool's Emergency search

If you need someone who can start immediately, check the Emergency page on PA Pool.

This page highlights PAs who have a Premium membership and have indicated that they are available to start immediately, making it easier to find people who may be able to respond to a last-minute request. Availability can change quickly, so it's worth contacting several suitable PAs rather than relying on one person being available.

Search for PAs who are available now

If you're looking for someone urgently, try sorting your search by Last Login. This shows you members who have been most recently active on the site, increasing the chance that they'll see your message quickly.

You can also expand your usual distance preference. A PA who wouldn't normally travel that far for a regular position may be willing to travel further for a last-minute shift, particularly if you explain that you need emergency cover.

If you're contacting several PAs, keep your message short and specific. Include the date, times, location, type of support required and when you need someone to start. This makes it much easier for PAs to quickly decide whether they can help.

For example:

Hi, I'm looking for emergency cover this Saturday from 9am-5pm in Bristol. I need support with personal care and getting out and about. Are you available?

You don't need to write a long introduction when time is limited.

Don't rule out PAs marked "I'm Sorted"

PA Pool members can indicate that they're "I'm Sorted", meaning they currently have work and aren't looking for a new position. However, availability can change. A PA may have forgotten to update their profile, have a cancelled shift themselves or suddenly have availability that wasn't there when they last updated their profile.

If you've exhausted the available options, it can be worth sending a polite message to suitable PAs marked "I'm Sorted". Just make sure you're respectful of their stated availability and avoid sending large numbers of identical or irrelevant messages.

Be flexible when you need cover quickly

When you have time to recruit, you can afford to wait for the perfect PA. An emergency is different. You may need to compromise on things such as experience, distance, availability or the exact hours you're looking forin order to find someone who can help at short notice.

That doesn't mean you should compromise on essential requirements or safety. Make sure anyone you bring into your support arrangement is suitable for the work involved and has any necessary checks, experience or training. But if you need someone for one or two shifts, consider whether every preference on your usual PA wish list is really essential.

The goal is to find safe, suitable temporary cover, not necessarily your next long-term PA.

Have a backup plan

The best time to think about emergency cover is before you need it.

If you employ multiple PAs, make sure each person is sufficiently familiar with your routines and support needs to cover another PA's shift if necessary. Keep important information somewhere accessible so that a new or backup PA can quickly understand what support you need. It can also be useful to keep a shortlist of previous PAs or people you've interviewed who might be interested in occasional work.

For more information about finding the right long-term PA, see The Complete Guide to Hiring a Personal Assistant in the UK.

Finding emergency PA cover

A PA being unavailable at short notice can be stressful, particularly when you rely on their support to get through your day. Having more than one PA, keeping in touch with previous PAs and knowing where to look for available people can make these situations much easier to manage.

If you need someone urgently, start with the PA Pool Emergency page, check recently active members and don't be afraid to widen your search. A little flexibility can make all the difference when you need support at short notice.