Microprovider Advice & Support

04/03/2026

Big thank you to Kate who met me for coffee with her PA today and talked me through her challenges and experiences of finding good quality support from a Microprovider (PA).
Kate is completely blind but also has 3 young children so she definitely needed the right kind of people for this. Great that she has found them now.... but there was definitely some learning for her on the way to finding this support!! Sharing her story enabled me to really reflect on what good looks like for the person who needs it .... rather than others involved in setting this up.
Still keen to hear from anyone who's keen to help define QUALITY when it comes to care and support - regardless of whether you receive it or provide it. Get in touch - it'd be great to hear from you.😊

11/02/2026

First of all – I’m not selling anything! 😊

Many people are offering care or support but it's often hard to know whether this will be the standard you'd expect or want for you or the person in your family.

I'm carrying out a piece of work over the next 2 months looking at the challenges Devon people encounter trying to finding good quality, independent support or care for young adults, older people or those with disabilities.

I’m especially keen to speak to family members (or individuals looking for their own support) who have had this experience. Tell me about the good, the bad, the ugly and anything in between.

I’m Simon. I work for Disability Focus which is an independent charity that supports people with Direct Payments. My role (usually) is to support individuals to set up providing self-employed support but I also work with the local authority to try and improve this market as a whole wherever possible.

Ring me, text me, email, WhatsApp me - whatever’s easiest…I'm keen to hear your story.

simon.tickner@disabilityfocus.org 07984 989439

12/01/2026

ANOTHER NEW MICROPROVIDER IN EAST DEVON! 😁😊
Jennie is up and running and available for work - read more about her here https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/smallgoodstuff/directory/jennie-gilbert-enabling/
As well as her really strong background working with neurodiverse young people she also has a background working with a variety of other people, young and old. Based in Sidmouth but willing to travel, why not give her a call. She has a lovely portfolio she can share with great information about what she offers and how she works.
Good luck Jennie - real pleasure working with you and to such a high standard👌😊
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=jennie%20gilbert%20enabling

Want to know more about micro-providing? https://www.disabilityfocus.org/pa-microproviders/

19/11/2025

After the success of running the No Limits Cafe in Newton Abbot, Amanda is now offering her considerable skills and experience to support and enable people as an independent microprovider.🤩

Despite already being very organised and knowledgeable, Amanda STILL wanted to ensure she had everything in place and worked with me briefly to ensure she had plugged any gaps. We've done that now and agreed today - all is sorted and it will be a fab service! 😊😊
Real pleasure working with her and delighted that she is out there providing quality support.

Find out more about Amanda and her availability ... https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/smallgoodstuff/directory/you-matter-enabling/

10/11/2025

DIFFERENT SERVICE - SAME STANDARDS!
Not all Microproviders are providing social care / support. Matt has lots of skills & experience as a maintenance man. He wanted to stand out as local, trustworthy and able to work for people who were perhaps a little more vulnerable than others. He also wanted to help out with those "little jobs" that many trades-people are not keen on!
Matt set up using the support of the programme and is now working alongside other Micros in N Devon.
Interested! Drop an enquiry to Simon and arrange a chat! 😊😊https://www.disabilityfocus.org/pa-microproviders/

04/11/2025

https://www.learndevon.co.uk/
Thinking about self-employment?
Learn Devon running courses in early 2026 (Introduction to self-employment) and many other learning opportunities for those who want to improve their skills.
Have an explore...😊

New courses are now available for 2025/26. We offer a range of courses and qualifications for adult learners. Get in touch with our team to find out more.

17/10/2025

100 people knew what they wanted to do and how to do it - they just wanted to make sure they got things right in terms of their very personalised ( and usually one-person) business.
Maybe you are already set up or maybe you are thinking about it. Some people need a little bit of help, some need more but once they are all working to a set of standards once they have completed the https://www.disabilityfocus.org/pa-microproviders/ advice programme.

17/10/2025

Delighted to have worked with Lisa as the 100th person to complete the Microprovider advice programme. Hard to give advice to someone with so much experience and knowledge but glad I could help 'fill in any gaps' and am so pleased that she's out there supporting people under her own steam now. They are lucky to have her!
Read about Lisa's first month here https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61580981908631

Could you be a microprovider? Offering enabling support or care to people in your local area on a self-employed basis? Ring for a chat or drop Simon an email – 07984 989439 simon.tickner@disabilityfocus.org to find out more or read more here PA/Microproviders - Disability Focus
The Microprovider Project is supported by Devon County Council.

23/09/2025

BIG THANK YOU to Westcotts Chartered Accountants & Business Advisers and Matt for giving up his time yesterday evening and coming to chat to Micros about all things tax-related.
Always a headache but great to have a friendly human to explain it in person and talk about the changes coming up in the next year or 2!

14/08/2025

Abigail, based in Tiverton, was already up & running when I met her but she wanted to ensure her self-employed business was as a good as she could make it so, over 4 sessions, she worked hard to 'polish' what was already pretty shiny in the first place!
Want to know more about Abigail and what she offers?? https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/smallgoodstuff/directory/butterfly-home-care-and-enablement/

Want to know more about setting up as a Microprovider in Devon??
https://www.disabilityfocus.org/pa-microproviders/

01/08/2025

Another new Microprovider for Devon. Real pleasure working with Rachel recently. Well set-up, trustworthy, reliable, legal and best of all super-friendly! Offering services in and around Crediton. Read more about her here https://www.communitycatalysts.co.uk/smallgoodstuff/directory/rachels-home-help-and-enabling-service/
or here Rachel's Home Help and Enabling Services

Are you interested in setting up running your own small, local micro-care or support service. Click here for more info😊https://www.disabilityfocus.org/pa-microproviders/

10/07/2025

Do you carry out more complex health care for people at home?

Read more below...