FAQ
You will be invited to the Diverse Cymru offices to have a DBS check carried out. Once your DBS has been
completed and verified, you can start working.
There may be other paperwork it is necessary to complete for payroll purposes. If your employer uses
the Diverse Cymru payroll service a Starter Checklist will need to be completed to make sure you are
put you on the correct tax code. Starter checklists can be requested from Diverse Cymru by the employer
or downloaded from our
Resources for PAs page
or direct from
HM Revenue and Customs website.
If your employer uses the managed banking service, Diverse Cymru will also need details for the bank
account you would like your wages paid into. You can request the form to complete with this information
from our Direct Payments Team or download it
here
.
Please note that each direct payment recipient you work for is classed as a separate employer
and that new forms will need to be completed for each individual you work for.
No. Diverse Cymru offers support services for your employer, the person in receipt of direct payments,
and may help facilitate in your recruitment but you do not work for Diverse Cymru. In circumstances where
you can or must give details of your employment these should be of the individual who employs you as a PA.
Yes. When you are employed as a PA the same employment legislation will apply as in any other
type of employment. This means that you will still be entitled to the same benefits, such as
statutory sick pay, annual leave, etc. Your employer is responsible for setting up your
employment contract and will inform their support worker in the Direct Payments Team of the
relevant information needed to undertake this on their behalf.
Your annual leave (holiday) entitlement will also be calculated at the same time. Any requests
for annual leave must be discussed with your employer, ensuring that sufficient notice is given.
These documents will be sent to your employer, who will provide you with copies.
Keeping records of annual leave taken are the responsibility of both the employer and
employee.
Payroll is processed on a four-weekly basis. Your employer is responsible for contacting
Diverse Cymru to provide the hours for payroll purposes and will be sent your payslips,
with copies for both you and their own records. If they are managing their own finances they
will be responsible for paying you by the method of their choice, e.g. cheque or bank transfer.
If the employer has opted for a managed bank account, where Diverse Cymru receives funds from
the local authority to manage on their behalf, you will receive payment directly into your bank
account from Diverse Cymru. If you make any changes to your bank account details you must notify
your employer and a member of the Direct Payments Team as soon as possible so that our records
can be updated accordingly.
Download a chart of pay periods here.
It is advisable to contact HM Revenue and Customs to discuss your personal circumstances
with them. You will need to provide them with the name of your employer and inform them that
Diverse Cymru is the payroll agent acting on their behalf. HM Revenue and Customs will then
notify Diverse Cymru of your new tax code. If you receive a copy of your new tax code, please
inform your employer who can contact their Support Worker at Diverse Cymru to check we are
also in receipt of this.
Sometimes situations may arise where your employer is no longer able to employ you,
e.g. if their circumstances have changed and their needs have been reassessed or if they
have chosen to move to a residential home. Should this happen, depending on how long
you have been employed, you may be entitled to statutory payments such as a notice period,
annual leave accrued but not yet taken and redundancy.
Before final payments can be made, an audit may need to be carried out on the employer’s
Direct Payment records. This process is dependent on the local authority. Once these final
payments have been made, a P45 can then be produced.
Whilst Diverse Cymru provide services that are beneficial to people wishing to become
a PA or who are already working as such these are intended only as support services for
direct payment recipients in their role as an employer.
Diverse Cymru does not employ PAs directly and are impartial as to whom direct payment
recipients employ. As such Diverse Cymru cannot provide references for PAs.