Research into Personal Assistants' conditions takes shape

by Chris Bartter

A government-funded research project into the working situation of Personal Assistants and their employers is being run jointly by UNISON Scotland and the Scottish Personal Assistants Employers Network (SPAEN).

Vernon Alexander, the project co-ordinator has been in post now for around half of the project's life, and already certain clear issues are beginning to emerge.

Personal Assistants are staff employed directly by people with disabilities to assist them. The money to do this is provided through the government's direct payments arrangements.

This leads to a number of difficulties, says Vernon. "Common issues that are arising, " he says, "are things like personal conflicts, and sometimes bullying, harassment and even violence between staff and employers - from both sides.

"But a clear structural problem is the different attitudes to the system demonstrated by local authorities. I don't want to pre-empt the research conclusions, but national guidelines are long overdue!

Vernon is based at SPAEN's offices in Motherwell, and was previously a union official with Amicus, as well as working with the Employment Tribunal service, so he has a wide and varied knowledge of trade unions and employers.

This is a six month project to look at all aspects of employer/employee relationships, including terms and conditions, working environment, funding issues and all areas of employment.

A detailed report of this research will be presented to UNISON, SPAEN and the Scottish Government and made available to the wider public.

Mandy McDowall, UNISON's Regional Officer for Social Work said, "We hope to both learn from this project so we are better equipped to assist Personal Assistants across Scotland, and get detailed research to back up our campaign for better funding and better support for all home care."

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