Manchester City Council

A Personal Assistant (PA) is employed to provide personal and general care and support for a person with learning or physical disabilities.

With the introduction of the Individual Budget, adults can now employ their own PA by advertising for the role themselves rather than employing a PA through an agency.

The role of a PA involves assisting in all areas of personal care and domestic need, and to act as a confidential escort, assistant and companion in the person's social and day-to-day activities. By providing help at the right time the disabled person is enabled to lead an individual and independent lifestyle in the community.

The PA should always ask what the client's needs or wishes are and listen to the requests and directions. They should have the physical skills of lifting, pushing and bending, but does not necessarily have to be a physically strong person to do the job. However, if one is in general good health and fitness, it would be an advantage to the role.

The clients needs may vary from a day-to-day basis and duties will alter according to needs.

Essential qualities for the PA are:

• Flexibility in terms of time and tasks
• Trustworthiness
• Empathy
• Caring attitude
• Clean and neat appearance
• Reliability
• Friendly, easy going manner
• Sense of humour
• Able to work with or without direct supervision
• Willingness and ability to learn
• Supportive and positive attitude

Job Description

It is important for a PA to have a Job Description and a Contract of Employment before they begin their job.

A job description is not a legal requirement but it is really useful to inform you of what tasks you are being employed to carry out and will protect you and your employer if there any disputes about the job in the future.

Ideally your job description should be given to you before you are interviewed for the job so that any specific skills that are required are checked against your experience. It does not have to be a long list but it is useful for you to review it over a period of time.

If you have not received a job description before, it is important that you ask your employer to work with you to detail your job. It is crucial that you are both clear on your role and what you are expected to do so that there is no confusion over the role.

A good job description should contain:

• Tasks to be done
• Skills and personal qualities that are important for the job

Contract

As soon as you start work you should have a 'contract' with your employer. However, they must also provide you with (by law) a Written Statement of Particulars with two months of your start date. This is often called a Contract of Employment. The minimum information you should have is:

• Pay 
• Hours of work 
• Holiday entitlement 
• Sick pay arrangements 
• Notice periods 
• Information about disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures

If you would like further information about Personal Assistants please download the information leaflet 'Individual Budgets - A guide for employees - Personal Assistants'