Can a Family Member Be Your Paid Personal Assistant? Yes — Here's How

Yes. A family member, friend, or someone you already trust can be paid to support you, as a properly employed and trained Personal Assistant. With The HCD Model we take on the employment, the training and the clinical oversight, so what was often unpaid caring becomes a real job.

Families tell us this all the time: "My daughter already does most of the support. She just can't afford to keep doing it unpaid." Many people don't realise there's a route out of that.

How it works

Your chosen PA joins us on a permanent contract, with holiday pay, sick pay and a pension. That protects them as much as it protects you.

Training is tailored to your specific needs and delivered to CIW standards. Where clinical tasks are involved, our nurses train and formally assess competency before delegating any task, then keep reviewing it.

Supporting someone you love is skilled, demanding work, so nobody is left to manage it alone. Our nurses provide ongoing clinical oversight, and our team handles the employment side: payroll, insurance, HR and cover arrangements.

You stay in control of how support runs. Rotas and routines are built around your life, not ours. Because your PA already knows you, there's no settling-in period with strangers.

Why families choose this

The person who knows you best becomes the person who supports you professionally. Continuity is guaranteed. Caring that was squeezed around a day job becomes sustainable, and the funding that pays for your support (often a Personal Health Budget or Direct Payments) stays within the circle of people you chose. It's personalisation done properly.

Common questions

Does it work with NHS Continuing Healthcare or Direct Payments? In many cases, yes. We work with families, social workers and health board teams on funded packages every day, and we can talk you through what applies to your situation. If you want to understand the funding first, Social Care Wales explains what Direct Payments are, and gov.wales sets out Direct Payments for Continuing NHS Healthcare.

What if my family member has never worked in care? That's what the training is for. What they already have, knowing you, is the part that can't be taught.

Interested in how this could work for your family? Book a free, no-obligation consultation via our contact form or on 0345 061 9000.