Personal Assistant
Personal Assistants (PAs) help people live independently, providing flexible support at home, at work, or out in the community. The person receiving support, or sometimes a family member or friend, directs how and when support is given.
Some PAs work independently, managing their own tasks and hours. PAs provide flexible, person-led care with kindness, respect and reliability. They tailor support to each individual’s needs and preferences.
See our qualifications relevant to the Personal Assistant role in the Care Workforce Pathway below.
You can see the skills and training linked to the role to support learners' development. You can also explore what learners need to progress to the next stage of their career in adult social care.
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NCFE qualifications for the Personal Assistant pathway
The following qualifications are the knowledge and competencies required to succeed in Personal Assistant roles.
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals to meet personal care needs (J/615/7204)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understand how to support individuals with foot care (M/616/6348)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Provide agreed support for foot care (A/615/7295)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals to maintain oral health and mouth care (R/650/1381)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Undertake personal hygiene activities with individuals (K/650/1686)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Assist in the administration of medication (Y/615/7174)*
Unit: Administer medication to individuals and monitor the effects
Unit: NCFE CACHE Undertake agreed pressure area care (M/650/1688)
*Unit available upon request.
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support independence in the tasks of daily living (D/615/7323)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals to live at home (D/615/7337)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals to access housing and accommodation services (H/615/7243)*
*Unit available upon request.
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support independence in the tasks of daily living (D/615/7323)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Provide support for mobility (T/615/7215)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Move and position individuals in accordance with their care plan (T/615/7229)*
*Unit available upon request.
Unit: NCFE CACHE Provide support for mobility (T/615/7215)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support positive risk taking for individuals (M/615/7262)*
*Unit available upon request.
Unit: NCFE CACHE Promote nutrition and hydration in adult care settings (D/650/1682)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Support individuals to eat and drink (J/650/5310)*
*Unit available upon request.
Unit: NCFE CACHE Understand how to support individuals to access and engage in education, training and employment (ETE) (Y/616/6330)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE Facilitate learning and development activities to meet individual needs and preferences (M/615/7259)*
*Unit available upon request.
Unit: NCFE CACHE AC M11: Infection prevention and control in a care setting (H/650/1378)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE DHSC 10: Maintain infection prevention and control in a care setting (K/650/5187)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE DHSC 11: Cleaning, decontamination and waste management (L/650/5188)*
*Unit available upon request.
Level 2 Award in Awareness of Dementia
Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Dementia Care
Level 3 Award in Awareness of Dementia
Level 3 Certificate in Understanding the Principles of Dementia Care
Unit: AN 35: Understand the process and experience of dementia
Unit: AN 47: Dementia awareness
Unit: NCFE CACHE HSC S 8: Support individuals with Dementia (D/616/6538)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE AN 48: Understanding the effect of dementia on end-of-life care (R/650/5298)*
Unit: HSC 9 Provide support to individuals with dementia
*Unit available upon request.
Level 3 Award in Supporting Individuals with Learning Disabilities
Unit: NCFE CACHE HSC AS 15: Understand personalisation in adult care (J/650/1379)*
Unit: AN 40: Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities
*Unit available upon request.
Level 3 Certificate in Understanding Mental Health
Unit: HSC S 20: Promote mental wellbeing and mental health
Unit: NCFE CACHE DHSC 12: Understand mental ill health (M/650/5189)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE DHSC 13: Communicate with individuals about promoting their health and wellbeing (Y/650/5190)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE AN 39: Awareness of mental health legislation (J/650/5294)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 1: Understand the legal, policy and service framework in mental health (F/650/5148)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 2: Support individuals to manage their own recovery from mental health conditions (H/650/5149)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 3: Understanding suicide interventions (L/650/5150)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 4: Support positive risk taking for individuals (M/650/5151)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 5: Support individuals with mental health conditions to change patterns of behaviour using coping strategies (R/650/5152)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 6: Understand mental health interventions (T/650/5153)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 7: Effective communication and building relationships in mental health work (Y/650/5154)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 8: Enable mental health service users and carers to manage change (A/650/5155)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 9: Enable individuals with behaviours that challenge to develop strategies to manage their behaviour (D/650/5156)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 11: Understand care and support planning and risk management in mental health (H/650/5158)*
Unit: NCFE CACHE MH 13: Understand the importance of personal wellbeing when working in mental health services (M/650/5160)*
*Unit available upon request.
English
Level 1 Functional Skills Qualification in English
Level 2 Functional Skills Qualification in English
Maths
Level 1 Functional Skills Qualifications in Mathematics
Level 2 Functional Skills Qualification in Mathematics
Digital/ICT
Level 1 Digital Functional Skills
Level 1 Certificate in IT User Skills (ITQ)
Level 1 Certificate in Digital Skills
Level 1 Essential Digital Skills
Skills for Care resources
Every journey will be unique. Use the Skills for Care assessment tools to evaluate skills, plan development and advance careers in adult social care:
Personal Assistant
Works directly for individuals needing care, often in a more autonomous setting.
Career path
Can transition into Enhanced Care Worker or Supervisor roles, depending on experience and training.
Next steps:
Explore other roles across the Adult Care pathway.
Enhanced care worker Supervisor
