34 South | Western Cape

Requirements

Personal qualities

Kindness is the most important quality that we look for in a personal care assistant. You should feel a whole-hearted desire to make a positive difference in another person’s life. The ability to laugh – both at yourself and with another person – will go a long way to making this job an enjoyable one.

You must be responsible, reliable and be able to commit yourself completely to a task or challenge. You will be required to be neat and tidy, in your personal space and within the environment in which you work. Respect for your client’s privacy and possessions is very important.

You need to be in good health as you will be required to handle the skills of lifting, pushing and bending. Emotional and psychological stability are equally important qualities.

Academic qualifications

You need to have:

Grade 12 (Equivalent to A-Levels in the UK)
Excellent skills in understanding, speaking, reading and writing English
International Driver’s Licence

Relevant training and/or experience

In order to be fully prepared for their role, we require our personal care assistants to complete the following three courses:
(We shall supply all necessary information regarding the courses)

1. Home Based Care Course (Equivalent to NQF Level 1)

Course length: 8 days
Course content

	First Aid Level 1

•	Emergency scene management
•	Shock, unconsciousness and fainting
•	Cardiovascular emergencies
•	One-rescuer CPR (adult)
•	Choking (adult)
•	Severe bleeding
•	Wound care
•	Burns
•	Secondary survey
•	Bone and joint injuries
•	Head/spinal injuries
•	Medical conditions (diabetes, convulsions, asthma, allergies)
•	Multiple casualty management

	Home Based Care

•	The caregiver
•	The caregiver and the community
•	The patient and the family
•	The body and how it works
•	Environment and bed-making
•	Dressing and undressing
•	Personal hygiene and toilet care
•	Psychosocial care
•	Secondary survey
•	Wound care and medicines
•	Feeding and nutrition
•	Breathing
•	Caring for patients with infectious diseases
•	HIV/AIDS
•	Caring for a sick child, a baby and the elderly
•	Death and dying
•	Community resources and referrals
•	Support for the caregiver

2. Introduction to tetraplegia

Course length: 2 days
Course content:

•	The world from a wheelchair
•	Introduction to: skeletal system, nervous system, urinary system and digestive system
•	Autonomic dysreflexia
•	Spasm
•	Personal care needs
•	Emotional needs
•	Effects of pressure on the skin
•	Different manners of transfer
•	Confidentiality and respect

3. Direct in-house training: client to personal care assistant

Length: 5-7 days
Content:

This last section of training takes place in the client’s home and will differ from one client to the next. The new personal care assistant works alongside the current personal care assistant, learning all there is to know about his/her new client and environment. As this is considered to be the final training requirement, the new personal care assistant will not be remunerated for the week, but the client provides food and accommodation.

This last section of the training is compulsory, regardless of the degree of experience or training that the personal care assistant might have. This ensures that all parties are confident that the new personal care assistant is able to fulfil their role, independently and competently.

Legal requirements

In order to work legally in the UK, you need one of the following:

•	Working holiday visa
•	Ancestral visa
•	Study visa
•	EU passport

As the personal care assistant works with a vulnerable individual, it is essential that you provide us with a Police Clearance Certificate (We shall advise and assist potential candidates in obtaining the necessary documents).