What is a Personal Assistant?
Personal Assistants (PAs) work directly with individuals to provide person-centred care and support. They assist with various aspects of daily living to support people to live as independently as possible and maximise their wellbeing. The job and activities vary according to the requirements of the person they are working with but can include:
- Health monitoring and help with prescriptions and taking medication
- Making medical appointments and accompanying where needed
- Assisting with personal care such as bathing and dressing (although not all roles involve personal care)
- Enabling access to services in the community
- Supporting social and physical activities
- Household tasks including cleaning, shopping and preparing meals
- Supporting with any home administration / bill paying etc.
PAs are employed directly by individuals who receive a social care or healthcare direct payment/personal budget to manage their own care and support, and some people may fund their own support package. They can be employed by one employer or work for several different people. Some PAs choose to be self-employed to give themselves more flexibility.
