Personal Assistants in the Dorset Council area can now request PPE

8th March 2021

Personal Assistants can now request free personal protective equipment (PPE) from Dorset Council to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. 

A scheme to provide Personal Assistants with PPE is launching today (8/3), following the successful roll out of a similar scheme to support unpaid carers in the Dorset Council area. 

The council will be the first point of contact for enquiries from personal assistants (PAs) and will register their PPE needs. 

Who can apply? 

Personal Assistants can apply for free PPE if: 

• They are directly employed by an individual (or self-employed) to provide care and support to help them to live as independently as possible 
• The care they provide means they come within 2 metres of an adult over the age of 18 that they support 
• They offer support in the home, or they help someone to go out into the community  

What PPE do I need?

If you’re a PA you can find detailed guidance on PPE in domiciliary care and an illustrative guide to help you understand which items of PPE you will need and in what quantities. 

 Suggested PPE includes: 

• surgical face masks (Type II) in all scenarios, with fluid resistant surgical masks (Type IIR) particularly if you are providing personal care or within 2m of someone who is coughing 
• gloves and disposable aprons if you are providing personal care or if you are indoors with someone who is extremely clinically vulnerable 
• eye protection if you are within 2m of someone who is coughing or sneezing 

How to request PPE

To request your PPE complete our online form or call us on 01305 221000. 

Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. 

Delivery options are available for those who cannot collect or do not have someone they can ask to collect on their behalf. Deliveries will be made by volunteers and we will aim to get packages out as soon as possible. 

Cllr Simon Gibson, Cabinet Lead Member for Care at Dorset Council said:

“It’s great we can extend the offer of free PPE to Personal Assistants who, like other care workers and unpaid carers, do vitally important work in supporting some of our most vulnerable residents. 

“Despite the astonishing rate at which the vaccines are being rolled out, PPE still plays an essential role in stopping the spread of the virus and will do so for some time to come.  

“By helping PAs to access PPE free of charge, we’re helping to stop the spread of the COVID-19 within our communities.” 

Free PPE is also available for unpaid carers

Find out more about how to access free PPE if you’re an unpaid carer.