What is a Personal Assistant?

A Personal Assistant or PA supports their employer to carry out daily tasks. A PA enables people who need support to lead an independent life. The PA’s role and the support that they provide will vary depending upon the need of their employer.

PA tasks may include:

Being a Personal Assistant - a personal account

Building a working relationship
“As a PA you will get to know how a person likes things done, and many of the day to day routine tasks will become second nature. That's not to say that one doesn't keep checking and asking what the employer wants. Assuming I know will lead to bad practice, undermine my employer and take away their independence.

By dealing with the employer directly, there is a need for mutual trust and respect, which is an important part of any working relationship. The PA is not there to be treated badly, or the employer to be treated with disrespect. The PA is not some kind of stooge and many PAs will find that their employer will consult them and try and engage with them in an effort to make their job worthwhile and challenging. PA'S do play an integral part of their employer's life, but it is also very important to know the boundaries so as to avoid any confusion.

For example, as a PA, I am very clear of the boundary when assisting my employer to some public place where she has to deal with people. They often talk to me instead of talking to my boss. I normally deal with this by saying, "You need to speak to my employer" or, if we are standing in a queue and someone 'butts in', then I have to stand back, and let them deal with it. Sometimes when we, "able bodied" people, think we are helping by dealing with a situation on behalf of a disabled person, we are, in fact , dis-empowering them. I know it is sometimes very difficult for PAs not to interfere, but unless the individual is in danger, or the employer has requested assistance, then, in my view, the PA has to stand back and allow the employer to get on with their life.

In summary, I would say that some people are good at assisting, others are great at caring, but we have to acknowledge the two may be different. When a PA is doing their job well then the employer is able to get on and live their life to the fullest; dealing with its ups and downs like any other human being, rather than have someone making the decisions for them and deciding what they should or should not do.

If you are interesting in a becoming a Personal Assistant or Support Worker then click here for more information on our register.