Who can be my personal assistant?
A personal assistant can be friends, neighbors, former aids, etc. They cannot
be a member of immediate family such as spouses, parents, sons/daughters,
sons/daughters- in-law. They can however, be a sibling or family member
such as cousins, nephews, nieces, etc, provided that they do not reside
in your home.
Should I ask an attendant for references?
Should I ask an attendant about their past jobs?
How do I check on attendant's past jobs?
Should I do a police check before I hire an attendant?
If the applicant has not been working for awhile, ask if he or she has done
any babysitting, taken any classes, or served on any committees. If a parent
was willing to trust this person with a child, that is a good recommendation.
Similarly, a teacher or committee chair can tell you whether the person had
good attendance and completed tasks properly and on time. You may also want
to run a police check.
What do I need to do as the employer of an attendant?
When you decide to hire a personal assistant (PA) you become an employer.
You will gain the benefits of directing your services but you also have
the responsibilities of being an employer. You must tell the PA clearly
what tasks he needs to do, how to do them, and coach him if he needs to
improve his work. It also means you need to treat the worker with respect
and help him respect you and want to keep working for you.
The Personal Assistant Network is an independent
network and is not associated with any groups or organizations.