What is a Personal Assistant?

As a personal assistant you can work directly with one or more individuals to help them with various aspects of their daily life, to help them live as independently as possible.

You can either be employed directly by an individual who’s managing and paying for their own care ir choose to engage a self employed personal assistant via the AtHome portal. Personal assistants usually support individuals in their own home or to go out in the community.

You can be employed directly by one employer or work for a number of different people.

Your role might include:

  • organising and supporting individuals with their social and physical activities

  • booking and going with individuals to appointments

  • helping individuals to get to work, college or university

  • helping with personal care such as showering and dressing (although not all PA roles involve personal care)

  • supporting with tasks around the house such as shopping, cleaning and cooking

  • monitoring their health for example measuring body temperatures or administering medication.

Download the Skills For Care 'Being a personal assistant' guide to find out more about the role, including who can be a PA, the recruitment process and starting work.

What skills do I need?

Everyone working in social care needs English, number, digital and employability skills including team work and problem solving skills. What core skills do I need to work in social care outlines some of the skills you need and has short activities to help you think about transferable skills from your previous experiences.

There are also some specific skills needed to work in this role. These include

  • the ability to work on your own initiative

  • good listening and communication skills

  • flexibility and time management

  • good interpersonal skills to work with someone on a one to one basis.

What experience and qualifications do I need?

You don’t necessarily need any qualifications to become a personal assistant. What’s really important is that you have the right values and behaviours to work in social care.

Your employer might ask that you have qualifications showing good English and number skills such as GCSE A-C in English and maths. It might also be helpful to have a social care qualification such as a Level 2 or 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, but this can be done once you start the job.

It might also be useful to have experience working in a similar role or with vulnerable adults. You could gain this experience through a work placement, from your personal life, through volunteering or as part of a traineeship or apprenticeship.

How do I get started?

If you are interested in working as a personal assistant you can register on the AtHome portal and create your profile. This will then be visible to people who are looking for support. Click here to get started.