The role of a personal assistant

By the end of this online course you will:

  • Recognise the difference between the medical and social models of care.
  • Have insight into the day to day work of a PA.
  • Have an overview of how employment law applies to PAs.
  • Understand attitudes to equality.
  • Appreciate the unique relationship between a PA and their employer.

The course consists of short sections containing case studies and videos. Each section has a simple multiple choice test at the end.

It should take an hour or two, but you don't have to complete it in one go. Your progress is saved as you go along, and you can pick up at any time.

When finished you will receive a certificate of completion. You can print this off for your records.

It is entirely free to take the course. All you need is an email account. Simply sign in or create an account here to unlock the modules below.

Module 1 Introduction
Unit 1 What will this course cover?  
Module 2 Care Models
Unit 1 The Traditional Versus the Social  
Unit 2 Real Life Scenarios  
Unit 3 Scenario: 6:30am  
Unit 4 Scenario: Pub Lunch  
Unit 5 Scenario: Earlier Start  
Unit 6 Scenario: Late Arrival  
Unit 7 Scenario: Rota Swap  
Unit 8 Traditional Versus Social: Summary  
Module 3 What is a Personal Assistant?
Unit 1 Being a carer or PA  
Unit 2 Skills and Qualifications  
Unit 3 Is PA Work For Me?  
Unit 4 General Requirements & Summary  
Unit 5 Support and Training Opportunities  
Module 4 Boundaries and Relationships
Unit 1 Boundaries and Relationships: Introduction  
Unit 2 Scenario: Painting Nails  
Unit 3 Scenario: Low Fat or Regular?  
Unit 4 Feedback: Low Fat or Regular?  
Unit 5 Scenario: Wet, Cold and Windy  
Unit 6 Scenario: Personal Care  
Unit 7 Feedback: Personal Care  
Unit 8 Scenario: Sportswear  
Unit 9 Feedback: Sportswear Shop  
Unit 10 Scenario: Colour Clash  
Unit 11 Scenario: Choosing Meals  
Unit 12 Feedback: choosing meals  
Unit 13 Scenario: Changed Mind  
Unit 14 Summary  
Module 5 Keeping and Feeling Safe
Unit 1 Keeping and Feeling Safe: Introduction  
Unit 2 Health and Safety when Moving and Handling  
Unit 3 The PA’s Perspective  
Unit 4 Health and Safety Issues  
Unit 5 Scenario: Getting up  
Unit 6 Scenario: Fall  
Unit 7 Scenario: Forget the Hoist  
Unit 8 Scenario: Worn tyre  
Unit 9 Scenario: No dropped curb  
Unit 10 Medication Issues  
Unit 11 Scenario: Tablets  
Unit 12 Scenario: Extra Slice of Cake  
Unit 13 Feedback: Extra Slice of Cake  
Unit 14 Information on Medication  
Unit 15 Safeguarding Issues  
Unit 16 Scenario: Insulting behaviour  
Unit 17 Safeguarding Responsibilities  
Unit 18 Hygiene and Cleanliness  
Unit 19 Summary  
Module 6 Employment and the Law
Unit 1 What are my employment rights?  
Unit 2 Contract of Employment  
Unit 3 Employed or self employed?  
Unit 4 Employed or Self Employed: Summary  
Unit 5 Inductions  
Unit 6 Scenario: Illness  
Unit 7 Scenario: Fault Finding  
Unit 8 Scenario: Alcohol  
Unit 9 Feedback: Previous Scenarios  
Unit 10 Employment and the Law: Summary  
Module 7 Equality Issues
Unit 1 Equality Issues  
Unit 2 Equality Examples  
Unit 3 Employment and the law scenarios  
Unit 4 Scenario: Maternity  
Unit 5 Scenario: Religious friction  
Unit 6 Scenario: Dietary requirement  
Unit 7 Scenario: Affair  
Unit 8 Feedback: Affair  
Unit 9 Equality: Summary  
Module 8 Assessment & Completion
Unit 1 Summary and Assessment  
Unit 2 Course Completion