An example of how SUGGEST can help: Jane is a young lady with a physical disability.

After discussing her needs with her social worker, Jane has devised her own support plan. Jane wants to employ a PA for several hours each week to assist her with daily living. SUGGEST will:

• Help Jane to open a separate bank account for her direct payment. • Discuss with Jane the type of person she would like to employ. • Advertise for a PA. • Help Jane with interviews. • Run police checks and references for the PA. • Help Jane to choose an insurance company for employment liability insurance. • Help Jane to understand what the insurance means. • Help draw up a contract of employment. • Make sure both Jane and her PA understand the contract of employment. • Make sure both Jane and her PA know how to complete timesheets. • Contact the Inland Revenue on Jane’s behalf in order to register Jane as an employer. • Complete all paperwork for the Inland Revenue for both Jane and her PA. • Calculate the wages for the PA. • Make sure the correct tax and national insurance is deducted. • Make sure Jane pays her tax bills. • Help Jane to show the council how she has spent the money. • Keep in touch with Jane to make sure she is happy with the arrangements. • Help iron out any problems Jane might have.

As Jane’s direct payment support continues, she may need assistance from SUGGEST in the future:

• If her PA needs time off, for example falls sick or becomes pregnant. • If she has a disagreement with her PA. • If other organisations need information about the PA, such as the child support agency, or the student loan company.

• She may want to employ another PA to cover holidays. • She may want to change her PA’s working hours. • If Jane feels unsafe or unhappy and needs someone to talk to. • If Jane has a financial emergency and doesn’t know what to do. • She may want to use an agency as well as her PA.