Personal Assistant – JMKNCL

Disability North; Newbiggin; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Disability North is seeking a personal assistant in the Newbiggin Hall area to help John access the community and engage in activities. The role requires fitness and experience working with neurodiverse adults, including ADHD, autism, learning disabilities and depression.

You will assist with daily living, personal care and accompany him to events, using public transport or driving if needed. You should be patient, boundary-conscious and proactive, able to de-escalate when necessary, and

Qualifications

• Experience with neurodiverse adults including ADHD, autism, learning disabilities and depression.
• Ability to support personal care, meals and daily living tasks with sensitivity and structure.
• Ability to navigate public transport or be driven to activities; willingness to undertake medication training if required.
• Respect boundaries and follow instructions while ensuring safety and de-escalation when needed.

Responsibilities

• Prompt for showers and oral hygiene; assist with meals and correct food choices; support medication management if needed.
• Assist with social activities and community access; help with home-based activities like cooking and board games.

Skills

Physically fit

Neurodiverse experience

Boundary setting

De-escalation

Proactive attitude

Instruction following

Driving licence

Job description

Location: Newbiggin Hall, Newcastle upon Tyne

Hours: 32 hours per week (weekends included)

Pay: £15.00 per hour

A driver would be advantageous but not essential, you must be able to navigate the public transport system.

About the Role

I am currently looking for a personal assistant to support me access the community so I can enjoy my chosen activities and venues safely. You must have a good level of fitness and have experience working with adults with ADHD, Autism, learning disabilities and depression.

I reside with my mum and sister and have recently relocated to the Northeast from the Midlands; I am unfamiliar with a lot of venues in the area, so I will be expecting you to make suggestions and have knowledge or be able to source venues I may like to explore.

I need structure and routine and individuals with clear boundaries and ability to reinforce instructions to keep me safe and regulated.

Key Responsibilities

Personal Care Support

• Prompt me to shower and look after my oral hygiene.
• Support with eating the correct choice of foods and manage my food intake a I can impulsively eat and cannot identify when I am full.
• My mum manages my daily medication, but you must be willing to undertake any training in relation to medication if required.

Daily Living Support

• Assistance with social activities and accessing the community.
• Assistance to engage with cookery and some simple food recipes within the home.
• You may be required to participate in board games if I choose to remain at home.

Mobility & Transport

• Support and accompany me to utilise public transport and ensure my safety whilst using public transport, or if you are a driver ensuring I am transported safely to and from activities.
• Full, clean UK driving licence is essential if you are a driver, business insurance is required.

Who You Are

• Physically fit – able to safely and securely keep me safe and use distraction techniques if I become dysregulated.
• Able to follow instructions carefully and work with sensitivity.
• Respectful of boundaries and personal space.
• You must have experience working with Neurodiverse Adults with Learning Disabilities, and some challenging behaviours and be able to demonstrate your experience practically.
• Bubbly, happy, and outgoing.
• Naturally upbeat, positive, and compassionate.
• Good at taking the initiative but also comfortable being guided from my parents or myself.
• Responsible with strong attention to detail and vigilant always.

About Me (John)

I am John, I am 27 years old and have recently relocated to the North East with my mum and sister. I am looking to get out into the community to enjoy a variety of activities including attending football matches, cinema trips, I like all films but not horror. I am currently looking to find a snooker/pool hall so as my PA I would expect to have a few games of pool with you, and beat you! I am looking to access a local gym and preferably one with a swimming pool. In the summertime I enjoy the beach and nature walks where there are cafes so we can stop and have a cuppa and bit of cake.

If I choose to stay indoors, we could spend the day cooking, I make a good chilli and am quite partial to a curry, I enjoy board games too, my favourite is Go for Broke2 and monopoly. I also play on my Switch and PlayStation. I do like to get my own way all of the time and can become challenging if I don’t get my own way sometimes, so you must be able to communicate with me and have techniques to descale the situations and bring me back to regulation in a timely, safe manner. My sister is good at helping me regulate so I do expect you to take her instruction and guidance to assist you in supporting me.

This vacancy will close as soon as a suitable candidate is appointed.

At the time of starting their employment, the successful candidate must have permission to work in the U.K.