CDP2879 Personal Assistant to a child

Dewis Centre for Independent Living; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

Dewis Centre for Independent Living is seeking a warm, patient Personal Assistant to support a 9-year-old boy with muscular dystrophy in Cardiff and surrounding areas. The role focuses on providing full personal care both at home and in the community, with a driving licence and use of a car essential for transport to activities.

The PA will help with daily routines, mobility, feeding and safety, enabling participation in hobbies like drawing, Minecraft, swimming and outings.

Qualifications

• Kind, patient and warm personality.
• Comfortable providing full personal care.
• Willing to apply for Enhanced DBS check (children’s workforce).

Responsibilities

• Provide all personal care including washing, bathing, dressing and continence needs.
• Assist with moving and handling using a hoist and mobility aids; full training provided.
• Support the child to participate in school activities, days out and community events.
• Ensure safety and supervision, especially during swimming practices.
• Assist with feeding routines and PEG tube care as required.
• Perform household tasks related to his care and wellbeing.

Skills

Kind and patient

Driving licence

Job description

PA required for a 9 year old boy living in Old St Mellons. He loves drawing, playing Minecraft on his iPad, listening to music, and he is a keen beatboxer. He also loves swimming, going to the cinema etc. He has muscular dystrophy and is unable to walk. Support and personal care required at home and in the community.

4 hours/week.

£15.50 per hour

Car driver and owner essential for this position.

ABOUT MY SON

My son is 9 years old and lives at home with us in the Old St Mellons area of Cardiff. He has muscular dystrophy and is unable to walk. He needs full support throughout his day and cannot manage everyday activities by himself — he requires help with all of his personal care, with moving and handling, and with eating and drinking. He uses a wheelchair to get around and relies on his personal assistant for everything he does.Despite this, he is a bright and sociable boy with a big personality. He loves drawing, playing Minecraft on his iPad, listening to music, and he is a keen beatboxer. He also loves swimming, going to the cinema, visiting Techniquest, playing chess sometimes, and he really enjoys watching satisfying videos/things, such as going to Roath Park to watch the lake, the horizon, and the swans. Please note that he gets distressed and tired from loud noises and crowded or noisy environments.As his parent, I will be your employer and will always be on hand to guide you. We are looking for a warm, patient, and fun personal assistant who can care for him and help him take part in all the things he enjoys.

PURPOSE OF JOB

My son needs full support both at home and to access the local community. His personal assistant will help him with all aspects of personal care, moving and handling, feeding, and keeping safe, as well as supporting him to take part in play, his hobbies, sometimes collecting him from school, and days out. The role is about giving him as much enjoyment and inclusion as possible, while also providing some respite for our family.

PLACE OF WORK

We live in the Old St Mellons area of Cardiff. Support will be provided in and around our home and out in the local community — for example at school, on days out, and at appointments. Because he needs help getting to his activities and appointments, a full driving licence and use of a car is essential to transport him. Support cannot be provided in the personal assistant’s own home.

HOURS OF WORK

4 hours of support each week, to be used flexibly around his needs and our family routine. These hours would usually be weekday afternoons and evenings after school, some weekends, and during school holidays. Mileage and reasonable expenses are available when you use your car for his activities.

RATE OF PAY

£15.50 per hour

TASKS INVOLVED

• All personal care: including washing, bathing, dressing/undressing, toileting, and continence needs.
• Moving and handling: all transfers and repositioning, including using a hoist and other mobility aids (full training provided).
• Helping him use his wheelchair and supporting him to get out and about.
• Supporting him at school, on days out, and with social activities (while strictly avoiding loud and noisy environments, as he dislikes them).
• Helping him enjoy his hobbies (drawing, chess, Minecraft on his iPad, music, and beatboxing).
• Keeping him safe, comfortable, and well-supervised at all times, with a strict focus on safety during swimming practices to prevent any risks.
• Household tasks relating to his care.
• Any other reasonable task to support his care and wellbeing.

TYPE OF PERSON REQUIRED

Essential qualities:Kind, caring, and patient, with a warm and playful nature.Reliable, punctual, and trustworthy.Comfortable providing full personal care and assisting with feeding routines (both PEG tube and minimal oral feeding).Confident with moving and handling and using a hoist (training will be given).A full driving licence and access to your own car is essential for his transportation.Able to follow guidance from our family and respect our privacy and routines.Willing to apply for an Enhanced DBS check (children’s workforce).Desirable qualities:Experience of caring for children with disabilities or additional needs.Fun and energetic, able to engage him in chess, drawing, games, and music.Non-smoker.Female PA preferred.

ABOUT THE JOB

Though a part-time job of 4 hours, this will be a proper job requiring a National Insurance number to be submitted. A probation period will be necessary in the first instance. Wages will be paid 4 weekly. You will receive 5.6 weeks paid holiday (pro rata). As this role involves working with a child, you will be required to apply for an Enhanced DBS check (children’s workforce) at no expense to you.Please Note: Dewis Centre for Independent Living is acting on behalf of a third party and will not be your employer or be liable for any issues arising out of your employment should you be offered employment. Support cannot be carried out in the personal assistant’s own home.