Why Aren’t More People Employing Their Own Personal Assistants?

Having your own Personal Assistant offers something many agencies struggle to provide: genuine choice and control. You get to choose who supports you, and decide when and how that support is delivered. You can build a long-term relationship with someone who understands and aligns with your goals, routines and preferences.

So if employing a PA offers so many benefits, why aren't more people doing it?

Interestingly, the number of people using Direct Payments has actually fallen over the past decade. According to data from The King's Fund, around 25% of people receiving long-term social care support now use Direct Payments, compared to 28% in 2015/16.

The answer isn't that people don't want personalised support. More often, it's that the path to getting it can feel overwhelming.

"Where do I even start?"

If you've ever looked into Direct Payments, you may have asked yourself exactly that. For many people, the process begins with assessments, funding discussions and paperwork. Some people receive excellent guidance throughout, while others are left trying to piece everything together themselves.

Even understanding what's available to you can be confusing. What exactly are Direct Payments? Am I eligible? How do I apply? What happens next? When you're already managing your health, work, family life or other responsibilities, it can feel like a lot to take on before you've even started looking for support.

Then Suddenly, You're an Employer

Let's say you've successfully secured Direct Payments. Congratulations! Now comes the next challenge: finding someone. Unlike using an agency, employing a PA means taking on the role of employer. Even if your PA is self-employed, you still need to advertise, review applications, conduct interviews, arrange contracts and organise payments. For some people, that's no problem. But for others, it's completely outside their comfort zone. Arranging support is one thing, but learning how to recruit and manage staff is a job in itself!

You might find someone with years of experience but little in common with you. Or you might meet someone who instantly puts you at ease and understands exactly what you're looking for. A great PA-client relationship is about much more than qualifications. Reliability, communication and compatibility are vital parts of any good client-PA working relationship.

What Happens If Things Go Wrong?

Another concern many people have is reliability. What happens if your PA is unwell? Goes on holiday? Decides to move on? For people considering direct employment for the first time, the lack of built-in backup can feel daunting. It's one of the most common reasons people hesitate, even when they like the idea of having more control over their support.

Making the Process Easier

It's important to remember that you don't have to navigate Direct Payments alone. Many local authorities work with Direct Payment support services and disability organisations that can provide guidance on everything from understanding your options and applying for funding to recruiting a PA, managing payroll and meeting your responsibilities as an employer. Some areas also offer managed accounts and specialist payroll services, helping to reduce the administrative burden and make the process much more manageable.

At PA Pool, we believe the benefits of employing a PA shouldn't be overshadowed by the challenges of finding one. That's why we've created tools designed to make the process simpler. Instead of scrolling endlessly through listings, Clients can use advanced search filters to find Personal Assistants based on location, skills, availability, interests and other important factors. And because life doesn't always go to plan, our Emergency Listings feature helps Clients connect with available PAs more quickly when urgent support is needed.

The Benefits Are Still Worth It

Despite the challenges, thousands of people across the UK continue to employ their own Personal Assistants because the benefits can be life-changing. The ability to choose who supports you, build a trusted relationship and shape support around your own life is something many people value enormously.

The challenge isn't convincing people that personalised support works. It's making the journey to get there feel a little less daunting.