What is a personal assistant?
Individuals who need care and support or their family members can employ personal assistants. A personal assistant provides personalised support to the individual to live more independently in their home. This support could be in their own home supporting someone to get dressed, washed, or eat and drink, or it could be supporting the person to engage in their local community or access work.
Training Available and Resources
The social care academy is open to personal assistants to register and access training courses.
There is also an Individual Employer Fund, which the employers of personal assistants can access and use to fund training courses that would benefit the individual needing care.
There is a guidance to help personal assistants and their employers to find further training and funding. Skills for care also have a toolkit for personal assistants.
Skills for Care have published a guide if you have Autism or you care for someone with Autism and are looking to employ a personal assistant.