FAQs

You can use the SILC Support Finder website to advertise that you are available for work and be matched with suitable employers. Please visit www.supportfinder.org.uk.

Employers must pay at least the National Living/Minimum Wage per hour before tax. You can find the current rates at: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). However, most employers in Surrey pay considerably more than this.  

You are entitled to 5.6 weeks (to a maximum of 28 days) of paid annual leave each year. You’ll need to let your employer know well in advance if you’d like to book annual leave. 

You should tell your employer as soon as possible if you’re unable to come to work due to sickness. You may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay if you meet the qualifying criteria and your employer’s payroll company will be able to advise your employer on this. You can find information about Statutory Sick Pay at: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). 

There’s no specific training that all PAs have to have but your employer may require you to attend training courses as part of your role. SILC offers training for PAs and you can find details of upcoming courses on our training page.

Mileage is usually paid at 45p per mile for journeys made during the course of the working day (not your journey to and from work). You’ll need to keep a log showing the date, number of miles and where each journey was from/to and provide it to your employer. 

This is possible but unusual, as there are certain criteria you have to meet to be classed as self-employed. A self-employed person runs a business on their own account and is responsible for the service they provide. They often provide support for more than one client. Self-employed status is job specific e.g. someone could be self-employed as a plumber but it wouldn’t then necessarily follow that they could be self-employed as a PA. 

• A self-employed PA must show the person paying them their terms and conditions of service and provide a service contract. 
• You must have a Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR), a 10 digit number issued by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), and provide this to the person paying you.  

• You must provide an invoice for the service and support you provide, showing the hours worked and the support provided. 
• You are responsible for your own tax and National Insurance deductions. 
• You are not entitled to Statutory Sick Pay or paid annual leave. 
• You must have your own Liability insurance and show the person paying you proof of this. 

In addition, you should provide references from people you’ve worked for before and should have a recent DBS check.