Recognising the vital role of Personal Assistants through Direct Payments, verification and social care recognition.

Personal Assistants (PAs) play a vital role in helping people who receive Direct Payments live independently, maintain their routines and achieve the outcomes that matter to them. Yet, despite the importance of their work, PAs are not always visibly recognised as part of the wider social care workforce.

A partnership between Derbyshire County Council, Blue Sky Brokers and the Blue Sky Social Care Card (BSSCC) is helping to change this.

Through this partnership, Direct Payment users in Derbyshire can be supported to purchase a Blue Sky Social Care Card for their Personal Assistants using their Direct Payment funds, where this is an agreed and appropriate use of their budget.

A joined-up approach to Direct Payments and recognition

Blue Sky Brokers is the Direct Payment Support Service for Derbyshire, supporting people who receive Direct Payments to understand and manage their arrangements and responsibilities.

This includes support with areas such as:

Recruiting Personal Assistants
Employment responsibilities
Payroll
DBS checks
Employment documentation
Employment law and guidance
Managing Direct Payment arrangements
Ongoing advice and support

As part of this support, Blue Sky Brokers can refer Direct Payment users and their Personal Assistants to the Blue Sky Social Care Card.

The PA then completes the Blue Sky Social Care Card application and provides evidence of their role. The Blue Sky Social Care Card team carries out the verification process before a card is issued.

Giving Direct Payment users choice

At the heart of Direct Payments is choice and control.

For many Direct Payment users, employing a PA means having greater control over who provides their support, when support is delivered and how it fits into their life.

A PA can become an essential part of someone’s support network. They may help with personal care, accessing the community, attending appointments, maintaining relationships, taking part in activities or developing independence.

Being able to recognise that contribution is an important part of building positive relationships between individual employers and their PAs.

Where agreed as an appropriate use of the Direct Payment, purchasing a Blue Sky Social Care Card for a PA provides one way for an individual employer to recognise the person supporting them.

Recognising Personal Assistants as part of social care

Personal Assistants are an important part of the social care workforce, but their role can sometimes be less visible than that of staff working for larger care organisations.

A PA may work directly for one person and provide highly personalised support in their employer’s home and community.

The Blue Sky Social Care Card helps provide verified identification and recognition of their role within social care.

It also provides access to participating discounts and offers, giving PAs an opportunity to benefit from the recognition that comes with being part of the social care workforce.

For many PAs, these small benefits can be a meaningful way of acknowledging the work they do every day.

Verification that gives confidence

The Blue Sky Social Care Card is not simply a self-declared membership card.

Applicants go through a verification process and are required to provide appropriate evidence of their connection to social care.

For Personal Assistants, this helps provide confidence that the card represents a genuine role within the sector.

Once verified, the card can be used as a recognised form of social care identification where accepted.

More than a card

This partnership is about more than providing an ID card.

It demonstrates what can be achieved when local authority Direct Payment services, specialist support organisations and social care recognition schemes work together.

For the Direct Payment user, it provides another way to recognise the person who supports their independence.

For the PA, it provides verified identification and access to benefits.

For the wider social care sector, it helps raise the profile of Personal Assistants and the essential contribution they make.

A practical example of person-centred support

The partnership between Derbyshire County Council, Blue Sky Brokers and the Blue Sky Social Care Card demonstrates how person-centred approaches can extend beyond the traditional delivery of care.

Direct Payments are about giving people greater choice and control. Supporting them to recognise the people who help them achieve their goals is a natural extension of that principle.

By connecting Direct Payment support, PA employment, verification and recognition, the partnership provides a practical way to celebrate the people behind personalised care.

The partnership at a glance

Derbyshire County Council
Provides the Direct Payment framework for eligible residents.

Blue Sky Brokers
Provides Direct Payment Support Services in Derbyshire and can refer Direct Payment users and their PAs to the Blue Sky Social Care Card.

Blue Sky Social Care Card
Provides a verification process for social care workers and Personal Assistants, alongside access to participating discounts and benefits.

Together, the partnership helps ensure that the people delivering personalised care are not only supported — but recognised.

Personalised care starts with choice. Great care is delivered by people. Those people deserve to be recognised.