What is the job role?

Do you want to make a difference to someone’s life in Coventry?

We are looking for caring people in Coventry to work with adults, young people, children and carers in the city.

We are inviting people interested in a care role with a difference to join our PA Finder register of personal assistants (known as PA's) looking for work. It is available online to people with disabilities who need support to live independently and who receive a direct payment from Coventry City Council. The register is run by Penderels Trust in partnership with the council. 

Penderels Trust supports hundreds of disabled people in Coventry, many of whom employ their own PA using their direct payment.  The advisers at Penderels Trust will support the employer to access PA Finder to see if there are any suitable candidates before they place a job advertisement giving those on the register the best chance of securing a job.

What is a Personal Assistant (PA)?

A PA is someone who is employed directly by an individual who has a disability or health care condition and lives independently in their own home.

Being a PA is different to other care roles. You work one-to-one with the person you support which means you can make a real difference to their life.

Recent quotes from employers who have a PA include “It enables my son to have a social life that doesn’t involve Mum or Dad, he can go out with his PA” (family with older child with disabilities) and “It [a direct payment] has helped me get out and about and I have a PA who is brilliant” (direct payment employer with physical disabilities). 

It is a very rewarding job for PA's too.  They said “Being a PA means you have time – I can help A to shave rather than doing it for him which would be quicker, he’s a proud man, it makes all the difference” (PA to older man with dementia). Another PA said “It’s not really like a job, it’s great. I can take S out to her activities (which I love too) and give her Mum some time to spend with the other children, it helps the whole family” (PA to family with a child with disabilities). When we asked about the benefits of being on the register, a PA said “I would say get yourself on there as soon as possible; I found 3 jobs through the register”.

Many employers do not require previous care experience. What is really important is that the person has the right values and behaviours and is able to work in a person-centred way, putting the employer at the centre of what they do and how they do it.

Each job role will vary depending on the needs and wishes of the person you work for. The actual tasks to be completed would be specified by the employer in their job specification. 

The hours of work vary from employer to employer and many employers are flexible about which hours you work. There are plenty of part-time opportunities and some PAs work for more than one employer.  Many employers are happy to discuss hours with a potential PA to make sure the job works for both of you.

The hourly rate of pay is set by the employer. It does vary but the most common rate of pay in Coventry based on the PA recruitments we’ve supported is currently £10/hour.

How to apply

It is free to join PA Finder.  Applying to join our PA Finder register is easy, simply go to www.penderelstrust.org.uk/pafinder and click on the ‘Register Now’ in the PA Finder box.  You can email us on pafinder@penderelstrust.org.uk or call 02476 511611 for more information.

Coventry City Council