Hello,
We are Cornerstone SDS, we are an advice, information, and support service working in Aberdeen City and Shire. We provide support to individuals who are employing PAs through an option 1. We have a Scottish Government funded project to work with employers in Aberdeen City. Through our work with Scottish Government, we became member of the PA programme board. The PA programme board has been set up with the aim to integrate Personal Assistants into the social care workforce.
We know that SDS Personal Assistants (PAs) sometimes feel they’re missing out on some of the independent and peer-to-peer support available to their fellow carers working in other care settings such as residential or agency – support that, in turn, would enable them to better support you.
We’re delighted, then, to welcome our newest member of staff, Gemma Wilson, who’s taken up the role of PA Advisor.
Gemma’s been appointed as part of a pilot scheme being run between Cornerstone SDS and the Scottish Government, specifically set up to address the challenges of engaging and supporting PAs employed through SDS.
Acting as a single point of contact for SDS PAs across Aberdeen City, Gemma will provide confidential advice, support and, where necessary, signposting to other organisations for SDS PAs. She’ll also be setting up local support networks where PAs can share ideas, explore local resources and make the most of training opportunities to help them in their work, and ultimately encouraging others PAs to consider careers in SDS.
We’d really appreciate it if you could share this email with your PA(s) when you have a moment. We’ve put together a PA advice section, https://cornerstonesds.org.uk/careers/support-for-personal-assistants/ on our website where PAs can find out more about Gemma’s work, get answers to frequently asked questions, and contact Gemma directly to discuss any ideas or concerns.
We hope you're as excited about the project as we are. After all, it’s all about supporting PAs to support you. As one of our clients recently put it, “If mum’s PAs are happy, then there’s a good chance that mum’s happy too.”
Take care,
The Cornerstone SDS Team
