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