22076 Cambridgeshire County Council - Interim Personal Assistant Pool

Cambridgeshire County Council invites potential providers of the Interim Personal Assistant Pool to complete this soft market test questionnaire.

Direct Payments support people to lead more independent lives and exercise choice and control over the services they receive. This promotes support that is flexible and tailor-made, giving people greater choice over the mix of support they receive. These principles promote independent living and direct payments should be available to all eligible people.

A key factor inhibiting the uptake of Direct Payments are difficulties recruiting Personal Assistants. A lack of Personal Assistant supply is putting choice, control, and consistency of care at risk

The Interim PA Pool, consisting of 4 FTE Personal Assistants, will increase the short-term supply available within Cambridgeshire to meet the care and support needs of people with a Direct Payment. This will help to address issues or delays within existing processes and practice guidance which may promote uptake of Direct Payments.