No upfront fees- Access member profiles of over 14,000 PAs and 4,500 PA Users
- Search specific criteria based on your needs
- Communicate securely via the messaging system to protect your privacy
“
When it’s good it’s fantastic, when it’s bad it’s horrid” – for Katy Etherington, the mastermind behind the interactive personal care assistant recruitment and employment website, PA Pool, that sums up having to rely on finding the right person to help her with everyday tasks and generally living her life!
We asked Katy to tell us more and to explain what’s special about PA Pool…
“Being a PA User has not only given me some of the most liberating experiences but also some of the most stressful. I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy and have employed my own PAs since 2001. Recruitment back in those days used to be the bane of my life, proving a hit-and-miss affair which too often was both costly and time-consuming. When you hold down a full-time job and have a busy social life, the last thing you want to be doing is wasting valuable time! Being a graphic designer I’m a professional problem solver, so in 2006 I decided to put my mind to making the lives of PA Users and PA’s easier by eliminating some of the hassles of the recruitment process. From that simple desire PA Pool was born!
“I launched PA Pool in 2007 and since then it has been helping thousands of PA’s find work, and PA Users recruit, all over the UK. We are a non-profit making organisation so revenue from subscription and advertising fees is put back into running, maintaining and improving the website service for its members."
So how is PA Pool different from Gumtree or other general recruitment websites?
“Well, PA Pool has a growing community of over 18,000 PAs and PA Users who are all looking to recruit or find employment. We understand what you need to recruit the right PA and as our website functions are tailored to this, PA Pool offers more flexibility than placing a conventional advert on say Gumtree.
“And because the site offers a secure messaging system, only those people who have registered to become members will be able to see the details within your profile. They will not have access to your full name or email address until or if you wish to share them.
“It’s easy to let PAs know you’re ‘looking’ as you only have to fill in a profile about yourself and what you require once. Your profile appears in search results and, as long as you log in regularly, will not rapidly disappear down the job listings like other websites.
“You can also search for PA’s who are looking for work using specific search criteria and match your requirements to profiles of suitable PA’s. This saves on time and eliminates the ‘wait and see who applies’ that you get when you place a conventional ad.
“You can then view the profiles of each PA, which details their experience, qualifications and a bit about them and contact them if you are interested. Plus, there is no need to pay a penny until you’ve found someone you’re interested in and wish to contact them, or you want to read a message from an interested PA.”
Becoming a member of the PA Pool community is FREE and once you’ve registered you can:
Complete your profile
- This is all about you and will tell PA’s what you’re looking for
- Activate your profile status to tell PA’s that you’re looking, or change it when you’re not
- Control everything from an easy-to-use dashboard
- Give star ratings to PA’s you’ve worked with
- Create a shift calendar showing when you need cover
Search available PA’s
- Use the quick search or advanced search facilities
- Search by location or other specific requirements
- View profiles of each PA (which includes ratings from PA Users they’ve worked with)
- Save specific searches so you can search according to your needs at the click of a button
- Shortlist potential PA”s
- Search for Emergency or Premium PAs
Upgrade
Paying a small subscription fee allows you to contact PAs and read messages from PAs interested in the position you’re offering:
- 3 days - £5
- 1 month - £20
- 3 months - £52
- 6 months - £98
- 1 year - £188
Once subscribed you can use the email facility as much as you like for the duration of your subscription.
If you want to find work as a PA/Personal Care Assistant,
click here.
If you want to employ a PA/Personal Care Assistant,
click here.
PA Pool is a dedicated interactive website for disabled people looking to employ a personal care assistant (carer) and PA’s (carers) looking for work. PA Pool is an award-winning market leader in its field, offering members the facility to actively manage their own recruitment or employment. Find out more at
www.papool.co.uk.