Clearly there are some benefits here. Appointing someone yourself gives you more choice and control over who cares for you and what tasks they do. But it also immediately turns you into an employer, with all the legal, financial and practical issues that entails.

So before going down this road, there’s a lot you’ll need to think about.

Please see below information which you need to consider when employing your own personal assistant.

Checking someone’s right to work in the UK

As an employer, you must make sure that any prospective worker is eligible to work in the UK before you employ them. Ask to check people’s passports or other ID to prove they’re from the European Economic Area or have a visa to work here. Remember to keep a copy of the paperwork.

For more information on the right to work in the UK, visit the Home Office website.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (previously CRB checks)

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks are now called Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, or Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) checks in Scotland. You must get a copy of the DBS check for anyone you’re looking to employ before you interview them or let them into your home.