What is a personal assistant?
Working as a personal assistant role in social care is an important and rewarding job. A personal assistant supporting people in the community provides individuals with personal, social and domestic support. They help people live full and independent lives within their homes and communities. Working as a personal assistant can be a very rewarding career and there are lots of opportunities to progress.
As a personal assistant you'll work directly with one or more individuals to support them with various aspects of their daily life. This could be in their own home, in the community, at leisure or at work.
The job can be very flexible, offering a variety of full and part-time hours, including evenings and weekends. You can support one person, or several people.
Your clients may include people who are older, disabled, or living with a mental health condition or learning disability.
What does a PA do?
Duties vary depending on the client’s requirements and individual needs. This may include providing support with:
- personal care, like washing and dressing
- household tasks, such as cleaning, gardening and shopping
- assisting with healthcare tasks (after training)
- looking after children and pets
- driving, attending appointments and leisure activities
- organising paperwork
- liaising with other professionals and family members who support the client
How can I become a personal assistant?
Becoming a personal assistant is not always about previous experience and qualifications – what’s important is that you have the right values and skills to do the job.
There are two different options for PAs; being employed by a direct payment recipient, and being a self-employed PA. It is important to use the correct employment status (PDF) as this can have tax and legal implications for the client.
Employed PAs
When employing a personal assistant, individual employers often look for someone who is a good personal fit.
Skills for Care’s ‘Being a personal assistant’ toolkit is a great resource for people who want to be, or are already working as, a personal assistant.
Further information on employing or being an employed PA is available from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group: Hiring a carer or personal assistant
Self-employed PAs
Becoming a self-employed personal assistant needs a slightly different approach: How to become a self-employed carer (UKCIL)
You will need to consider the following if you want to deliver your PA services on a self-employed basis:
- organising and paying for any training you need to deliver your services
- organising your own DBS check
- having business paperwork in place, such as contracts, terms and conditions, invoices, cancellation and complaints policies
- registering with HMRC for tax purposes
- having appropriate public liability insurance, with £2 million recommended as the minimum level of cover
- having appropriate motor insurance cover
- setting your fees
- providing any equipment you may need to do your job
- organising cover when you are sick or go on holiday
- advertising your PA services
Training and resources
The Disability Resource Centre (DRC) provides training materials, workshops and online courses for carers and personal assistants through the Care Academy.
Skills for Care provides guidance and information on training for individual employers and personal assistants.
The Bedfordshire Employment and Skills Academy (BESA) offers free adult learning and employment support, including English, maths and digital skills courses.
You can also find free online government-funded courses in health and adult social care, with certificates available.
How much will I get paid?
Rates paid can vary depending on different factors such as experience and personal circumstances. Wages will be at least the National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.