Training and Events for Personal Assistants

Personal Development

Improving your skills is essential for providing better and safer care. Discuss with your employer about their requirements and any potential training you might require.

Training Guide

Skills for Care have a new training guide to support you on knowing how to develop your skills as a Personal Assistant.

Click here to access the training guide

Skills for Care also have a training needs form for you to understand what type of training you might benefit from. Make sure you use this form with your Individual Employer.

Click here to access the form

Recommended Training

Below are some recommended ways to support your own development as a Personal Assistant.

• Care Certificate
  We recommend that you complete the Care Certificates. These certificates are an agreed set of standards developed jointly by Skills for Care, Health Education England, and Skills for Health. The Care Certificate is made up of the fifteen minimum standards that should be covered if you are 'new to care' and should form part of a robust induction programme.
  
  Click here to access the complete set of accessible videos on the Care Certificate workbook
  
  
• Necessary training
  As personal assistant may need to take on necessary training. For example, if you are responsible for lifting or moving you, then they must have moving and handling training. 
  
  Click here to refer to be redirected to Skills for Care training webpages
  
  
• Apprenticeships
  Apprenticeships allow you to enhance your skills through a mix of practical work and educational learning, ending in nationally acknowledged qualifications.

There are different levels of apprenticeships, depending on your role and responsibilities:

• Adult care worker (equivalent to level 2) 
• Lead Adult Care Worker (level 3) 
• Lead Practitioner in Adult Care (level 4) 
• Leader in Adult Care (level 5)

Funding for training

Regarding funding, ensure your employer knows they can finance the your training to fulfil their expectations by applying for the individual employer funding.

The individual employer funding allows your employer to apply for a maximum of five courses per individual, and further applications are allowed upon completion.

Your employer can apply for funding to support you to complete a relevant apprenticeship via the apprenticeship levy fund.

Click here to find out more about apprenticeship funding on the Government website

Events

Acas
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) offer training, events and tailored support to help you deal with workplace problems and keep up to date with best practice.

Click here to find out more about Acas events

Skills for Care
Skills for Care hosts local and national events and networks to support the adult social care sector with their workforce development needs.

Click here to find out more about Skills for Care events