Personal Assistants

What is a Personal Assistant (P.A.)?

A Personal Assistant (P.A.) is someone who is employed to provide some of the personal and domestic everyday support needed to enable people to lead an independent personal and social life.

What does the role of P.A. involve?

A P.A. helps the person they support to take control of their lives by giving assistance at the time when it is needed and in the way it is needed. A P.A.s role is to give the person they support the ability to lead an independent life in their own home.

A P.A. can be employed to do a variety of tasks, ranging from domestic and personal care, helping with child care, looking after pets or leisure and social activities.

A P.A. may be required to work entirely within the home, helping with personal and domestic care or may be required to act as escort assisting with social and day to day activities. For instance, a P.A. may be required to be an escort to the hairdressers, doctors, library, cinema or to assist in the workplace during their employer's working day. To see a list of some of the tasks a P.A. may be asked to do click here.

If your role involves looking after your employer's children you must have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. This can be arranged through your local Authority. For more information on CRB checks click here

Who decides the role of the P.A.?

A P.A. is employed by an Agency or directly by the person needing the support. This person will define and control the job role of the P.A. It is important for the P.A. to understand that their role is to assist their employer to lead an independent life. As an employee the P.A. will also have legal rights. To see these rights please go to the Employment rights page or click here.

What skills and experience are needed to become a P.A.?

Each P.A.s job description may differ depending on the needs of the employer and the level of support needed. Due to the close working nature of personal care, sometimes other things may be more important than actual skills and experience. For instance a P.A. needs to be reliable, punctual, efficient and flexible. Because the P.A. will be involved in the everyday personal life of their employer, they will need to be loyal and discrete. There will need to be respect and understanding on both sides between the P.A. and employer.

Where do I find work as a P.A.?

If you are looking for a job as a P.A. there are a number of people who can help. Your local Council may be able to help. The local Jobcentre will advertise P.A. roles. To find your local Jobcentreplus office click here. If you are looking for a job as a P.A. you could phone 'Jobseeker Direct' where you can search and apply for jobs by phone. Telephone 0845 6060 234 or textphone 0845 6055 255 from 8.00am - 6.00pm Monday - Friday and 9.00am - 1.00pm on Saturday. (If you need to use a textphone, one may be available at your local library or Citizens Advice Bureau.) You could visit your Jobcentreplus office and use the Jobpoint touch screens to search for P.A. vacancies and print off the details.

The Situations Vacant in your local newspapers or advertisements in local shops, libraries or colleges may advertise P.A. jobs. A variety of organisations advertise nationally for example Penderels Trust, (please note we do not recommend any particular organisation or company, simply give examples of available support. For any support agency that would like to be listed please contact us). NCIL (National Centre for Independant Living) asvertise for P.A.s frre of chearge. Clck here to go to the NCIL website.

If you would like to become a P.A. and are receiving benefits, Direct Payments or Individual Budgets, your local Council or the benefit enquiry line would be able to advise you on how many hours you could work before your benefits would be effected. The benefit enquiry line is a confidential phone service for disabled people, carers or people representing them. The benefit line number is 0800 88 22 00 or textphone 0800 24 33 55 from 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday - Friday and 9.00am - 1.00pm on Saturday. (If you need to use a textphone, one may be available at your local library or Citizens Advice Bureau.)

Your local University or College may have a Graduate Placement or recruitment department. To find your nearest College or University click here.

Am I allowed to work as a P.A. if I receive benefits?

You may be able to work as a P.A. if you receive benefits. This is called 'Permitted work'. Permitted work is work you are allowed to do if you receive one or more of the following benefits due to an illness or disability; Incapacity Benefit; Severe Disablement Allowance; National Credits.

If you are getting another benefit because you are not fit to work, for example; Housing benefit; Income support; Council Tax Benefit, you may lose it if you do any type of paid work. For more advice on 'Permitted work' click here to go to the Jobcentreplus website and download the 'Permitted work' booklet.

Support and Representation

You may wish to join an organisation who will suport and represent you in your professional capacity. For details of UNISON and to go to their website click here.

For details of the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and to go to their website click here.

Additional Information

Skills for care have produced a booklet 'Getting Started - A guide for Personal Assistants". Click here to see or download

 

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