A message from our chief executive

Independent Lives believe in excellence. We are passionate about going above and beyond to deliver high quality care which is people led and changes lives. For many people, their journey with Independent Lives starts with a visit to our website. That’s why we want their online experience to be the best it can be.

We last did major work on our website in 2018 and we felt it was the right time to take a fresh look at our site and find out what worked and what didn’t. One of the things we have done is to make a change to who we work with on our website. Not only will this change save us money in the long run (which we can reinvest in supporting people), but we have gained greater flexibility and control over our online presence.

Alongside the visual changes to the site, the most significant change has been to move all online Direct Payment information to our new sister site - PA Pages. This has two excellent outcomes.

• People who are new to Independent Lives can visit our main website and understand who we are and what we do much more easily.
• People who are already receiving Direct Payments can visit PA Pages and find the things that really matter to them.

The developments we are launching through PA Pages are really exciting. Through the site, you can book all our latest training and events, browse through personal assistants who are available for work, advertise jobs and find all the information and advice you need through our brand-new advice hub.

Independent Lives is working on future updates to PA Pages and will be making improvements to our website all the time. Some of the ideas that are currently being looked at include new simplified processes for Direct Payment employers who want us to manage their payroll or banking, or a new online chat function where you can connect straight to an adviser and get the information you need quickly and easily.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped us to get to where we are with the site, in particular the Direct payment employers and personal assistants who gave us feedback and insights and helped us to develop the site. Our doors are never closed and if you would like to get involved and have any thoughts or feedback on the site then please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

By working together, we can help more people have choice and control and create a fair society where everyone can participate and fulfil their potential.

Kind regards

Rebecca Smicle
Chief Executive, Independent Lives