Personal care assistant
Support your disabled employer to live an independent life.
Also known as: carer
About the job
What it's like
As a personal assistant you would support your disabled employer to live an independent life. Personal assistants are employed privately. People can receive funding from the local authority to employ their own support staff.
You could assist a variety of people such as:
elderly people
disabled people
people with mental health conditions
people with learning difficulties
children
You could work as part of a team of support workers or independently. You could work for more than one employer. You could be self-employed.
Your daily tasks would be determined by your employer depending on their needs. You would not need to make decisions for your employer. You would support your employer to meet their identified goals. Your employer will identify their needs and objectives with you – your role will be to support them to meet their objectives. This could involve supporting with:
preparing meals
personal hygiene needs such as taking a shower or going to the bathroom
household maintenance
managing medication
transportation
Hours
Working hours can vary. They are agreed with your employer. You could be working full-time or part-time hours.
Environment
This could vary depending on the needs of your employer. Usually, you would work in the home of the person you're caring for.
Travel
You may need to travel for this position.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
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Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Personal care assistant'
Select qualification level(s)
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Healthcare
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- personal care
- meal planning and preparation
- companionship
- activities of daily living (adls)
- hoisting
- home health care
- toileting
- caregiving
- positive airway pressure (cpap/bipap)
- medication dispensation
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- understanding
- taking responsibility
- reliable
- respecting
- empathising
- verbal communication
- listening
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Care
Skills for Work: Health and Social Care
Foundation Apprenticeship: Social Services and Healthcare
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
There are no formal qualifications for this role. Most roles will provide role specific training that meet the needs of the employers. You can find helpful courses through the Personal Assistant Network Scotland or a local independent support group.
For this role, employers value people who are empathetic and understanding. Good communication and numeracy skills can also help you to stand out to employers.
You will need to learn on the job so flexibility and the ability to adapt will be helpful.
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Personal care assistant'
