Getting the Best from your PA(s)

If you are an employer of PA(s) this module will provide you with a range of resources to help you be clear about what you need your PA(s) to do to assist you and how you can teach them what they need to assist you effectively and consistent with your choices, wishes and preferences.

If you are a PA, this will give you some understanding of what to expect from your employer as you work together to ensure you are providing the right support as guided by your employer (or their representative). 

The relationship between a PA employer and a PA is unique and needs you both to work well together to be successful. The purpose of the PA role is to support the employer (disabled person) by providing person centred support as guided by the employer to live life as independently as possible. This means taking the same opportunities as non disabled people for relationships, family and community life, employment and citizenship. It means having the same rights as non disabled people, so, it is the job of the PA to support the disabled person to fulfill this by providing whatever assistance they need in the different situations and circumstances they find themselves in. This means it is a very varied role and will involve assisting your employer (the disabled person) with a range of help and tasks depending on what they need and what they guide you to do to effectively assist them.

This resource comes in two parts. Part 1 is this module and Part 2 is a PA Learning and Development Planner. Working through both of these will produce a “How to Support Me Well” document.

PA employers can each work through this learning resource independently of the other but for best results do it together or use the information you gather to share with your PA(s) about how best to support you.