Personal Assistant

Suffolk County Council; Sudbury CP; On-site; GBP 14,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Suffolk Independent Living in Sudbury is seeking a Personal Assistant/Support Worker to assist my son, who has ASD, PDA, SPD, ADHD and dyslexia. The role is play-based, aimed at building confidence, independence and wellbeing, both at home and in the community.

You don’t necessarily need prior experience, but you should be patient, caring and able to engage with children; you must have the right to work in the UK. DBS check required and 3 hours per week during term time.

Qualifications

• Patient, caring and understanding approach.
• Fun, playful and able to engage with children.
• Comfortable supporting a child with additional needs.
• Understanding of sensory needs and PDA.
• Creative thinking to adapt activities.
• Reliable and trustworthy.
• Builds a genuine positive relationship with him.

Responsibilities

• Spend 3 hours with my son.
• Support through play-based activities at home.
• Support him to enjoy his interests and hobbies.
• Take him to community activities (parks, walks, swimming, soft play, football).
• Encourage communication, confidence and independence through play.
• Provide a calm, positive and supportive presence.
• Follow his lead and adapt activities to his needs and interests.

Skills

patient

caring

engaging with children

support child with needs

sensory needs awareness

creative thinking

reliable and trustworthy

Job description

• Suffolk Independent Living
• Address: Sudbury, Suffolk
• Salary: £12.71 per hour
• Hours: 3 hours available per week during term time
• Contract: Permanent, required as soon as possible
• Reference: 0024

A Personal Assistant/ Support Worker is required in Sudbury.

Although this job description is correct at present, it may change from time to time after negotiation with the post holder.

You must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this role, sponsorship not available.

Job purpose

I am looking for a Kind, patient and enthusiastic Personal Assistant to support my son, who has ASD, PDA, SPD, ADHD and dyslexia. This is a play-based role, focused on helping him have fun, build confidence, develop independence and enjoy positive experiences both at home and out in the community.

If you are someone who enjoys working with children, being active and having fun while making a real difference to a child’s confidence and wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.

Main duties and responsibilities:

• spend 3 hours with my son

• support through Play-based activities at home

• support him to enjoy his interests and hobbies

• getting out into the community for activities such as parks, walks, swimming, soft play, football or other activities he enjoys

• encouraging communication, confidence and independence through play

• provide a calm, positive and supportive presence

• following his lead and adapting activities around his needs and interests.

Personal Specification:

Please refer to these when submitting your application.

You don’t necessarily need previous experience, but you should be:

• patient, caring and understanding

• fun, playful and able to engage with children

• comfortable supporting a child with additional needs

• understanding of sensory needs and PDA

• be able to think creatively

• reliable and trustworthy

• someone who can build a genuine positive relationship with him.

Additional details

There is a cat and a dog in the home.

Summary terms and conditions:

• hours, days and times of work: 3 hours during term time Days / times to be agreed

• pay rate: £12.71 per hour

• annual leave: The annual holiday entitlement for this position will be equivalent to the work normally done during 5.6 weeks (statutory entitlement)

• expenses: You will be reimbursed for prior agreed expenses incurred as part of the role

• sick pay: I do not operate a private sick pay scheme but provided you meet the eligibility criteria, you may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)

• pension: I do not operate a private pension scheme, but I will fulfil my statutory obligations via theNEST pension scheme.

The post is subject to the following:

• background check: A satisfactory Enhanced with Barred List(s) Disclosure and Barring Service check is required for this position. (If you have been convicted of a criminal offence, please send these details to SIL in a separate email or in a sealed envelope together with a stamped addressed envelope. This will not be shared unless you are shortlisted for the post)

• references: If successful, you will be required to provide details of two referees, one of which must be your current or most recent employer, or character references if you have not been employed (this cannot be a family member)

• trial period: This post is subject to a probationary period of 3 months.

To find out more

Please refer to the job description onour website

For further information, please call 01473 603876.

How to apply

If you wish to apply for this position, please complete an application form onour websiteand email it to SIL [e-mail] or return by post to SIL, Unit 21, IP City Centre, 1 Bath Street, Ipswich, IP2 8SD

Please quote the job reference number 5354.

Closing date: 1 pm, 3 December 2026.