Factors affecting recruitment and retention of personal assistants in England: a quantitative analysis

Abstract

The shift towards the greater personalisation of care has seen a rise in personal assistants (PAs) employed by individuals using their own funds or receiving public support. Despite their growing importance, the recruitment and retention of PAs can be challenging. In this article, we empirically explore what affects the turnover and vacancies of PAs. We find that PA turnover and vacancies are affected by care need, type of support and local labour market factors. The new evidence from this article shows the difficulties of employing PAs and potential policy levers that could be used to improve PA recruitment and retention.