CVCDP - Cardiff and Vale Coalition of Disabled People

Personal Assistant Information

What is a Personal Assistant (PA)?
What is a Personal Assistants’ role?
What to expect when you become a PA
What will be required of you?
What qualities do you need to be a PA?
Your responsibilities to your employer
CRB Checks and the PA
PA application form
PA vacancies

What is a Personal Assistant (PA)?

In the context of Direct Payments a PA is someone who is employed by a service user to enable them to live their life as full and independently as possible. In this context as an employee, PA' s assist and may become involved in many aspects of the employer’s life. For example, they may provide personal care but may also assist the person to meet their friends, go out for meals, to the theatre, for walks, holidays, shopping etc.

A PA does not make decisions on behalf of the employer but helps that individual to take control of their life.

What is a Personal Assistants’ role?

The role of PA is about equality, mutual acceptance, flexibility and interaction. However, since working to help meet the specific needs of an individual, there are no hard and fast rules and no fully defined roles.

In general a PA is there to assist with tasks such as getting dressed, using the toilet, washing, dressing, cooking, driving, shopping, etc. PA’s will, within reason, carry out any physical task that is required by the employer in their daily life. In short, a Personal Assistant (PA) supports their employer to carry out daily tasks and enables people who need support to lead an independent life.

The relationship between employer and PA is complex and unique. Both employers and PAs are dependent on each other, as fundamentally one cannot survive without the other. Within this relationship both employer and PA can expect to be treated with respect and equality. The most essential criterion to enable a successful placement is communication between both employer and PA.

What to expect when you become a PA

As a PA you will get to know how your employer likes things done, and many of the day to day routine tasks will become second nature. This does not mean that the PA should not check with the employer by asking what he/she wants. Assuming, may lead to bad practice, and can undermine the employer by taking away their independence.

In dealing with the employer directly, there is a need for mutual trust and respect, which is an important part of any working relationship. A PA is not there to be treated badly, nor the employer to be treated with disrespect. PA’s play an integral part of their employer's life, but it is also very important to know the boundaries to avoid any confusion. Specifically with regard as to what to expect, it should be noted that:

A PA is not provided solely for domiciliary support. A PA role must enable a PA-user to live an independent lifestyle whether that evolves going to work, college, the cinema, shopping, etc.
Employers are responsible for the training of all PA’s and in directing how the working arrangement operates.
Employers must be able to provide a separate bedroom in their own homes for a PA to use whilst they are working unless there is no requirement for PA’s to live-in.

What will be required of you?

Below is a list of tasks that a PA may be asked to perform. This list is by no means exhaustive and similarly you will not be required to do all the tasks on the list. It should give you some idea of what kinds of things a PA might be asked to do.

Personal Care

Assistance in getting in and out of bed
Dressing and undressing
Washing, bathing and showering
Assistance with using the toilet
Massaging and exercising

Household

Food preparation
Shopping
Household/domestic work
Dealing with paperwork, correspondence, bills & letters
Gardening
Looking after animals

Social/Leisure/education

Assistance in taking part in leisure activities
Assistance at meetings or college
Meeting friends
Reading

Working with children/families

Playing games with children
Helping with homework
Helping parents with preparation for outings
Going on outings
Helping with meals

What qualities do you need to be a PA?

You need to be:

reliable
trustworthy
able to accept responsibility
able to work on your own
able to use own initiative
willing to learn the job well
diligent
conscientious
good sense of humour
a good communicator
non-judgmental

Your responsibilities to your employer

to arrive at the agreed time - be punctual
to give notice regarding arriving late
be communicative and discuss any problems that arise as soon as possible
to be respectful of the privacy and of the person you are working for and maintain a professional approach at all times
keep confidentiality
to understand and be mindful of the employer's right to dignity, respect and independence
to respect the employer's possessions and equipment

CRB Checks and the PA

Cardiff County Council may place a requirement on the employer to undertake a Criminal Bureau Records Checks on you.

PA application form

A personal assistant might fulfil a wide variety of support needs for a disabled person from personal care and domestic assistance, to driving and social activities.
A personal assistant as an employee of a disabled person can offer that person choices and independence which might otherwise be denied.
A personal assistant offers a disabled person an opportunity to have more control over his or her life.
A personal assistant can empower a disabled person through a positive working relationship.

‘A personal assistant can prove to be invaluable to a disabled person’s aspirations of empowerment and independence’

With assistance from the CVCDP DP (Direct Payments) support service - your employer will be responsible for setting up your employment contract and passing payroll information to CVCDP who will undertake the payroll process on behalf of the employer.

PA vacancies

(1) Communicator Guide required for Deaf/Blind gentleman living in Llandaff, who uses BSL to communicate and requires a Communicator Guide to provide support to enable him to access local facilities and community activities. 4 hours per week, £11.00 per hour. BSL skill (level 2 minimum) is essential. Car owner/driver essential. Tel. 029 2025 5611, quoting ref 10/ATI/09.

(2) Personal Assistant required for disabled man in the St. Mellons area of Cardiff. Flexible relief to cover sickness and holidays. £7.00 per hour and £40 per night. Personal care, socialising and domestic duties. Tel. 029 2025 5611, quoting ref. 01/DMY/10.