At a glance 14: Personalisation briefing: implications for personal assistants

Added: 14/07/2010

A briefing summarising the implications of the personalisation agenda for personal assistants.

This At a glance briefing examines the implications of the personalisation agenda for personal assistants.

Key messages

Personalisation for personal assistants (PAs) means:

Tailoring support to people's individual needs so they can live a full and independent life. PAs are already delivering personalised support, but some may need to work differently, and not be so focused on task-based care and support.
Ensuring that people have access to the information and advice to make good decisions about their care and support.
Being enabled to work in new, creative and person-centred ways. PAs may be much more involved in care and support planning work with people who use services, to resolve issues that may once have been passed on to someone else to decide.
The opportunity to learn a range of new skills and remain flexible and adaptable as the ways in which people are supported change.
Terms and conditions of employment may be different - and working hours more flexible - with people working on their own directly employed by the personal budget or direct payment holder.
Learning and development are vital to help PAs adapt to the changes.
The Seven Core Principles for Self Care which were developed in partnership with people who use services and carers can help guide people when they think about developing practical solutions to working as a PA.