With the summer holidays approaching, you may already be talking to your Personal Assistant (PA) about time off. Agreeing cover early gives you both time to prepare, so you can get the support you need while they’re away.
But you can’t plan every absence. Your PA could become unwell or have an emergency, leaving you with little time to find someone else. If you need help to get up, prepare meals, attend appointments or see friends, being without support can quickly disrupt your day. Having a backup plan means you know who to call and what to do.
What support would you need?
Think through a usual day with your PA. What would someone else need to help with? Some things may need to happen at a particular time, while others could be arranged differently for a few days.
Write down anything a person providing cover would need to know, including your routines, preferences and essential instructions. This saves you having to explain everything at short notice. Knowing cover is arranged also means your PA can take leave or recover from illness without worrying that you’ve been left without help.
Who could cover?
You might have another PA who can offer occasional hours, or a local care agency that can provide short-term support. A family member or friend may be willing to help too.
Speak to them before adding them to your plan. Check when they’re available and whether they can provide the support you need. Family and friends won’t always be able to step in, even if they’ve helped before.
For agency cover, ask about availability, costs and how they would get to know your needs. It’s better to have that conversation before you need someone urgently.
Try to agree a second option in case your first choice is unavailable.
How will you pay for cover?
You may need to pay your PA’s holiday pay or sick pay as well as paying someone else to support you. Replacement cover may also cost more than your usual arrangements.
If you use Direct Payments, check what your agreed budget allows for. If you’re unsure, speak to your council or Direct Payment support service before committing to extra spending.
Write down what you’ve agreed
Your backup plan doesn’t need to be long. Keep the important details together:
The support you need and when you need it.
Who to contact for cover, with their phone numbers.
Who to try next if they’re unavailable.
Any instructions someone would need to support you.
How cover will be paid for.
Keep the plan somewhere easy to find. Make sure anyone providing cover has the information they need, and keep personal details safe. Check it again if your needs or arrangements change. Someone who could help last year may no longer be available.
A plan won’t prevent every difficulty, but it can save you making rushed decisions when you’re already worried about being without support.
If you’d like help making a plan for when your PA is away, talk to us. We can help you consider who could provide cover, what to check and what to agree in advance.
