PA model from Enable Cares

Our PA (personal assistant) model empowers every person we work for to access their right to self-directed social care support.

Today, too many people still struggle to access self-directed support. Our PA model ensures that every person that chooses Enable has full choice and control over their support. Wherever you live, however your local authority pays for your support, with Enable, you will design it yourself. You will be in control.

Our unique approach already supports more than 1,000 people including those who have a physical or learning disability, an acquired brain injury, autism or a mental health issue.

The PA model in action

The Enable PA model is built around you and has four key elements

• Service design: Once we agree to work together, the planning stages are led by you. We'll ask you what is important in your life, what you would like to achieve and how you would like to achieve it. These conversations involve all the people who are a part of your life, but will be guided by you. Your service is reviewed at regular intervals to make sure it's still the right fit for your changing circumstances and aspirations. Life doesn't stand still – neither will your support.

• Individualised support strategies: This is our best way of getting to know you and what support is right for you. We work with you to create detailed guidance for your team about your likes and dislikes, and how to make sure we build the best support around you to live life on your terms. We are committed to training your staff to feel confident to support you to be an active member of your community and to always recognise your human right to dignity and respect.

• Dedicated team of personal assistants: This is the exciting bit! With our support, you can build your own bespoke team of personal assistants – your team, people chosen by you who are employed to work with you. Each PA is contracted directly to the person they support, having been personally chosen to be part of your team. Building on the steps we have worked through together to this point, we handle the whole process for you.

• Transparent funding arrangements: Every person supported has access to their own individual service fund. This means that, regardless of how your support is commissioned, you have full control and visibility of your support budget. You'll be able to see how the money from the social work department is being spent to support you to live life on your terms. The PA model works no matter which of the four self-directed support funding options has been approved by your local social work team. This allows you to use your budget in a way that meets your desired outcomes. Budgets can be used in many different ways including: ordinary peer support, direct support, technology, bespoke purchases that will make life easier, or other community activities.

“Our support is person-centred and so is our culture. Enable actively encourage ideas, opportunities to challenge each other and strive to provide the best possible support to the people we work for.”