Small charity. Big ambitions.
Lots of people think the PDA Society is bigger than we are — we punch above our weight in many areas and are proud of the impact we make as a small charity.
One of the reasons we’re able to do so much is our incredible team. And for some, the only reason they can take on their roles alongside their caring responsibilities is because of the flexibility we build in.
Our ambitions are big — not just in our mission to make life better for PDA people and their families, but in how we want to show up as an employer. We want to be the best place to work for PDA people and for those who care for them.
We’ve found that working towards that goal doesn’t just support our team. It helps us be a better, higher-achieving charity too.
What makes a workplace carer-friendly?
We’ll never be able to pay the highest salaries — but we work hard to compete on everything else that makes work meaningful and sustainable.
From job ad to onboarding:
- We make it clear that lived experience and transferable skills are just as important as formal qualifications.
- We recognise that many carers have been out of the workforce for years, not due to a lack of ability, but because of life circumstances.
- Many carers become experts in systems, advocacy, and support — skills that translate directly to our work.
Transparent and kind recruitment:
- All job packs explain how we score applications and what to expect from the interview process.
- While we can’t offer individual feedback to all applicants, we do let everyone who isn’t shortlisted know what stood out in the applications we moved forward.
- We schedule interviews flexibly, share the questions in advance, and always open interviews with a reminder that it’s a conversation, not a test.
Flexibility is a given, not a perk:
Our working model is built on trust. Our policy is: if you’re getting your job done, we don’t mind when or how you do it.
- Some roles do require presence at fixed times — like delivering training, attending meetings, or spotting safeguarding concerns.
- But if your task is writing a report, do it at 2am if that’s what works for you.
We also offer:
- Health cash back scheme and employee assistance programme that includes family cover.
- Life insurance.
- A culture that cares about outcomes, not presenteeism.
Caring is part of our culture
This approach isn’t just policy — it’s baked into how we work together.
Our brilliant People & Operations Manager, Sasha, has helped embed open conversations about caring across the team. We check in about what’s going on at home — not to be intrusive, but so we can support each other before things become unmanageable.
It’s about being human. Being proactive. And being kind.
“In my role, and across the PDA Society, our people are at the heart of everything we do. It’s so important to me to help create a supportive, inclusive environment where every team member, regardless of their individual circumstances feels valued. We really do walk the talk with flexible working and disability friendly practices. I am so proud of our amazing supportive team, and the opportunity of being able to work around my own significant caring responsibilities.” Sasha
Why we’re sharing this
We’re not sharing this to brag — there’s always more for us to learn. And we’re definitely not sharing it to drum up more applicants (shortlisting from almost 350 applications for our most recent role was more than enough!).
We’re sharing it because carers are some of the most loyal, dedicated, and skilled colleagues we’ve ever worked with.
We know that many families, especially in the PDA community, include brilliant people who can’t work in the traditional 9–5 mould. But with a little flexibility, a bit of understanding, and the right mindset, these people could be exactly the talent your organisation is missing.
If you’re curious about how to make your workplace more PDA-friendly — and more welcoming to carers of PDAers — we’d love to talk. Get in touch.
And to all the carers in the PDA community: you are empathetic, creative, and determined. We see the advocacy you do, the support you give, and the quiet ways you show up every single day.
We appreciate you. Thank you.