Values and Skills of a PA

As a Personal Assistant (PA) there are certain values and skills that you might need in your PA role, including:

Values

• Responsibility and reliability
• Respectful
• Encouraging and enabling
• Understanding and empathy
• Flexibility
• Committed to equality and diversity
• Understand the challenges faced by disabled people
• Willing to learn

Skills

• Listening skills
• Interpersonal skills
• the ability to be personal yet professional
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Literacy and numeracy skills
• Advocacy skills
• Strong local knowledge
• The ability to treat people with dignity

Next steps

To find out if you’ve got what it takes to work as a PA, try the ‘A Question of Care’ interactive video challenge below.

Part of
Last Updated
13 July 2022
First Published
01 April 2022
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Disclaimer

Please note that the information contained in this Handbook is provided for guidance purposes only. Every reasonable effort is made to make the information accurate and up to date, but no responsibility for its accuracy and correctness, or for any consequences of relying on it, is assumed by Self Directed Support Scotland or any other contributing party.

The information does not, and is not intended to, amount to legal advice. You are strongly advised to obtain specific, personal and professional advice from a lawyer about employment law matters, or an accountant/ tax specialist about taxation matters, and from HMRC and your insurers. You should not rely solely on the information in this Handbook. Support organisations listed in this Handbook can help you find appropriate sources of advice.