What is a Personal Assistant?
A Personal Assistant is employed directly by an individual who needs support.
Unlike traditional care services, Personal Assistants provide personalised support that is tailored to the individual, their lifestyle, interests and ambitions. Many Personal Assistants are employed through Direct Payments, enabling people to choose who supports them and how that support is delivered.
Personal Assistants may support people to:
Live independently at home
Access work, education or volunteering
Enjoy social and leisure activities
Maintain relationships and family life
Manage daily routines
Build confidence and independence
Participate in their local community
Who employs Personal Assistants?
Personal Assistants are usually employed directly by the person who needs support, giving them greater choice and control over who supports them and how that support is provided. Many PA employers use Direct Payments or other personalised funding arrangements to recruit someone whose skills, values and personality are the right fit for their individual needs and lifestyle.
PA employers come from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. They may be disabled adults, older people, people with long-term health conditions, or individuals with learning disabilities. Personal Assistants may also be employed by parents of disabled children and young people, or by a family member acting on behalf of a loved one who needs support. In these situations, the employer works alongside the Personal Assistant to ensure support is tailored to what matters most to the person receiving it.
Unlike agency care roles, Personal Assistants often support one individual or family over time, helping to build trusted professional relationships and a deep understanding of the person's goals, interests and aspirations. This enables highly personalised support that helps people live independently, participate in their communities and achieve the life they choose.
Whether employed directly by an individual, a parent, or a family member acting on someone's behalf, Personal Assistants play a vital role in helping people live independently, achieve their goals and enjoy greater choice and control over their lives.
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